Two witnesses testified Monday in the bench trial of Henry Graham that they observed the unprovoked fatal assault on banking executive Russell Long on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile in 2023. Eric Arrigo, 28, and Andrew Meza, 29, who were roommates at the time, said Graham, 52, approached Long from behind and struck him in the back of the head on the afternoon of June 29, 2023, near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Ontario Street.
Long, a vice president at Northern Trust, suffered severe brain injuries after the attack and died 13 days later at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Graham faces two counts of first-degree murder for the incident. The trial is before Cook County Circuit Judge Charles P. Burns, with proceedings expected to continue Tuesday.
Arrigo and Meza testified that Long was unarmed, carrying a shopping bag, and did not engage with Graham before the blow. After being hit, Long fell forward, striking his face on the pavement. Witnesses described him as barely conscious and bleeding heavily from his mouth and nose. Arrigo called 911, and two nearby Northwestern nurses provided aid. Meanwhile, Graham was seen sitting on a fire hydrant, watching the scene unfold before walking away as emergency responders arrived.
Shortly after, Graham approached police officers at the 500 block of North Michigan Avenue and admitted to striking Long, though he claimed that Long had collided with him first. Officer Victor Creed testified that Graham appeared angry and made repeated references to the O.J. Simpson case, asserting that he would be freed as Simpson had been.
Body camera footage showed another officer asking Long whether he wished to press charges; Long’s muffled response was reportedly negative, prompting the officers holding Graham to release him. Graham remained free for three months following the attack and allegedly assaulted several other individuals during that time.
Four officers working the day Long was attacked were later disciplined for rule violations, receiving suspensions ranging from one to five days. A formal investigation into the case did not begin until July 2, following complaints from Long’s family. Graham was arrested on October 25 while incarcerated on unrelated charges.
During the trial, the defense acknowledged that Graham struck Long but argued that Graham lacked the intent necessary for a first-degree murder conviction. Law student Jake Balderas, assisting Cook County Assistant Public Defender Celeste Addyman, stated that Graham could not have anticipated that a single punch would be fatal. Conversely, Assistant State’s Attorney Sean Brady maintained that Graham acted knowingly and without provocation, causing significant bodily harm.
Records presented in court show Graham was diagnosed with schizophrenia and had a long history of criminal behavior, including multiple arrests and convictions for assaults since 2010. He has frequently moved among Chicago, Evanston, and South Bend, Indiana, cycling through shelters, jails, and hospitals.
Long’s family described him as healthy before the attack. His brother, Dan Long, testified that Russell Long, an alumnus of the University of Illinois, was well-regarded for his down-to-earth personality and appreciation for live music.