DeKALB | Justin Pisellini’s life changed two weeks ago.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, Oct. 21, Pisellini and two other people were assaulted outside of Grant North by at least three individuals, one of them an NIU student. All three of the victims were injured, with Pisellini the worst for wear, suffering broken cheekbones and a broken eye socket, and being left unconscious on the sidewalk.

Arrest warrants have been issued for freshman undecided major Martell D. Hunter and non-NIU students Christopher Jones and Gregory Daniels, all of Chicago. Their current locations are unknown and the three were not available for comment as of press time.

For the first time since the incident, Pisellini, a freshman undeclared business major, speaks about the attack.

Northern Star: Can you go through the attack for us? How did it start?

Justin Pisellini: From what I remember, my friend from home was with me after we picked up the Domino’s pizza we ordered from Grant North; we had to walk to North from Grant South to get it, because South was closed off for Homecoming. We were walking back to Grant South when someone asked us for a piece of pizza. My friend then said, “Shut up,” in an annoyed tone of voice, and we kept walking. All of a sudden I heard, “Who said that?” I turned around and as soon as I did, I got blindsided with a punch to the face. I then defended myself by throwing two punches that connected, but as soon as I did that, I got hit by another person. I got hit a few more times before I blacked out.

NS: How do you respond to the allegations that you instigated the fight with a racial slur?

JP: I did not make one racial slur. In fact, I did not even talk. My friend did not say anything racial, either. Hearing these rumors makes me really mad, because my chosen roommate is black, and so are many of my friends. Race has nothing to do with how I think or talk, and I think those making this up are just trying to give a reason for these people to have attacked me.

NS: Do you know who informed your mother of what happened to you? And do you know if any staff members from NIU were present that night in the hospital?

JP: A friend of mine that went to the hospital that night called my mother on [a] cell phone. I did not wake up until the next day, so I do not know if any NIU staff was there.

NS: How great was the physical pain you endured? Are you feeling better?

JP: The pain was bad for a couple of days after, until the swelling went down. It still hurts my jaw to chew hard things, but for the most part, I am fine now.

NS: Though arrest warrants have been issued for the people who attacked you, their current locations are unknown. How do you feel about the people who attacked you being released, and having now fled? Has University Police explained the situation to you?

JP: I really have not talked much to the police, except for them to write down the police report. I did not even know that these kids fled and are missing. However, I’m not worried about them. I know they will get caught eventually, and when they do, they will get what they deserve.

NS: Are you satisfied with the way NIU has handled this situation?

JP: I’m fine with how NIU handled the situation, except for the fact that there needs to be more police on patrol. I think it is ridiculous that the cops sit by the entrance to make sure people have their entrance cards to get in, but they didn’t respond to an attack that happened on the side of a dorm.