With windows shot out twice, Chicago business owners believe they're being targeted for Muslim faith
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A business owner in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood said he is being targeted because of his faith.
At Redzovic Jiu-Jitsu, at 4900 N. Lincoln Ave., they train for everything. Yet nothing has prepared them for someone opening fire on the business twice this summer alone.
"It's either a BB gun or a bullet," said Idriz Redzovic.
The shattered glass out front has left Redzovic and his cousin, who owns the gym, questioning what is really going on.
"I hope it's someone being mischievous," Redzovic said, "because if it's not, you know, this is a concern."
Surveillance video shows someone over the weekend in a vehicle pulling up and firing at the glass late at night. What is concerning is that this is the second time in recent weeks that Redzovic Jiu-Jitsu has been targeted.
"I believe they might be connecting the Muslim faith, because myself and my cousin—my cousin runs a very popular talk show, 'The Deen Show,' and he has millions and millions of followers around the world," said Redzovic.
On the YouTube show, the owner speaks about Muslim issues.
"I don't know if they're targeting him—because there's some stuff that he films in here sometimes—and I don't know if they're targeting it because of our faith—and it being Muslim-operated and owned," Redzovic said.
The gym has operated at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Ainslie Street since 2000, but only recently started experiencing the problems.
"The first two times, they didn't get nobody," Redzovic said, "but the third time, they might hit somebody."
Just over a mile away a week earlier, shattered glass was also seen at the Muslim Community Center off Elston and Montrose avenues. There was no video of that incident, but the Council on American Islamic Relations Chicago said it speaks to uptick of violence targeting Muslim businesses and the community.
"On Facebook and Instagram around this time of year, you see a lot of hate toward Islam and Muslims—and I don't know if this is because tomorrow's 9/11," said Redzovic.
Chicago Police detectives are looking into the jiu-jitsu gym's most recent vandalism and the other incident n July. They have not called it a hate crime.
As for Redzovic, he said, "I want this to stop."
