what did terry kennedy go to jail for

Terry Kennedy went to jail for aggravated battery related to an attack that fatally injured fellow skateboarder Josiah Kassahun in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, in 2021.

What did Terry Kennedy go to jail for?

• In July 2021, Terry Kennedy assaulted fellow skater Josiah Kassahun at or near a motel in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, punching him and causing him to fall and suffer severe head and internal injuries.

• Kassahun later died from these injuries, and Kennedy was initially charged with first-degree murder before a jury later acquitted him of that specific charge.

• However, he was convicted on two counts of aggravated battery connected to the same incident and received a prison sentence of five years.

Quick legal timeline

• 2021: Incident and initial arrest on serious charges, including first-degree murder, after Kassahun’s death.

• 2022: Acquitted of first-degree murder but found guilty of aggravated battery.

• 2023: Sentenced to a total of five years in prison for the aggravated battery convictions.

Recent and latest news

• Coverage in late 2025 notes that Kennedy’s name resurfaced because he became eligible for early release, with sentence credits shortening his time in custody.

• Reports describe this as a high-profile case in the skateboarding community, with ongoing online discussion and debate over the verdict and sentence.

Forum and discussion angle

• On forums and social platforms, people often ask “what did Terry Kennedy go to jail for” as the case trends again around his release and new mugshots or news clips.

• Typical discussion points include:
  • Whether the verdict (aggravated battery vs. murder) felt fair in light of Kassahun’s death.

* How the incident changed Kennedy’s career and reputation in skateboarding culture.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.