Covenant News

Stabbing Victim Released from Hospital

CHICAGO, IL (July 29, 2005) - Jason Burley, who was stabbed numerous times and seriously injured during an assault Saturday evening, was released from the hospital late Thursday and is recuperating at home.

Burley, 35, is the son of Rev. Jerome and Joanne Nelson. Jerome is superintendent of the Central Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church and Joanne works in the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism.

"I am feeling blessed," Burley says. "I'm going to make a full recovery." Burley originally was placed in intensive care at Illinois Masonic Medical Center suffering wounds to his heart and lungs, as well as punctures elsewhere in the chest and abdominal areas.

Burley says it is a miracle he is alive. His lung collapsed when it was punctured and his heart suffered a wound that left a silver dollar-size hole. "It missed every artery," he says. "They say you couldn't hardly do that if you tried."

Amir Kando, 34, was arrested and is being held in Cook County jail on $275,000 bond in connection with a battery with a weapon charge. He is expected to be arraigned next month. Kando lives in the same apartment building where Burley's parents live - Burley says he barely knows Kanda. "Nothing more than good morning or goodbye," Burley says of man. "I don't even know his name."

Burley says he was on the common ground-level back porch of the apartment building, where the assault took place. "I'm an over-the-road driver and I was just getting ready mentally for what I had to do to get ready (to leave the next day)," he explained. Burley says Kando walked out of his apartment and attacked him from behind by wrapping his right arm around his neck and attempting to slash his throat.

"I grabbed the knife blade," Burley says. "I've got a nasty cut on my finger." He says authorities told him the knife was an 11-inch turkey carver. Burley was able to wrest the knife away, but not before being stabbed several times. "I was able to get to my feet and holler," he recalls. "When I hollered, he ran into his apartment.

"I didn't realize I was stabbed," Burley continued, adding that he did not seem to be bleeding. But, "the wounds in my torso were bleeding internally," he explained. He says he felt weakened and then collapsed to the ground. "I couldn't feel anything. I could just feel it getting dimmer," he says.

Although the situation was grave, Burley says, "from the time my parents came down until now, everything that could have gone in my favor has gone in my favor."

Burley says authorities told him that Kando told them he tried to kill Burley because Jesus had told him to. "I'm just glad it was me and not some senior who couldn't have fought him," Burley says, noting that Kando outweighs him by about 50 pounds.

Burley expects to continue recuperating for another three to four weeks. "I had the whole Covenant church praying for me," he noted. "That's a powerful thing." Joanne Nelson says Kando's mother, who also lives downstairs with her son, has apologized to her.

Kando was charged with battery twice in 1998, according to Cook County Circuit Court records. Disposition of those cases was not immediately available.

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