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Violence surging on Chicago's CTA Red Line, riders on high alert
Chicago police are hoping the public can help track down some of the suspects involved in recent CTA crime.
CHICAGO - It was a violent weekend in Chicago as 65 people were shot, five of them fatally.
In addition, there was another terrifying incident on the CTA Red Line Monday morning. For the second time in three days, a passenger stabbed a would-be robber.
Chicago police say the investigation is still ongoing but according to surveillance video, a rider pulled out his own knife to fend off a group of robbers.
Police say the Red Line rider was confronted by seven people near 63rd Street when one of them pulled out a gun. That’s when the rider stabbed the gunman — who is reportedly 15 years old — and then ran off, as did the other suspects.
The teenager died from his injuries.
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Last Friday, another passenger fought off six attackers with a knife, after being stabbed himself. Five of them have been charged.
Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown says they continue to increase patrols on the CTA, and the head of transit security says while their numbers are up, they, like other industries, are having problems finding enough workers.
"The security industry faces the same challenges everybody else faces — trying to get jobs filled. We have taken a big leap up and we’re continuing to get larger numbers, especially from the 5 o’clock to overnight hours, we're getting larger and larger numbers," said Kevin Ryan, Vice President of Chicago Transit Authority Security.
Ryan added they have more than 250 unarmed guards on a daily basis manning the public transit, with an emphasis on the Red Line.
No one is in custody from Monday morning's incident.
Police are also looking for suspects in separate Red Line crimes. Police say on July 5, two women robbed a 33-year-old woman and on July 19, two men committed an armed robbery.
CTA riders are on high alert after a rash of deadly and brazen violence on trains and platforms.
"I definitely take it with someone rather than being alone," said CTA rider Hannah Halvorsen.
Chicago police are hoping the public can help track down some of the suspects.
The Red Line stretches 26 miles from 95th Street on the South Side to Howard Street on the North Side — and over the years, it’s become a vessel for criminals.
"The Red Line is the biggest line and has the most activity, so we concentrate on it," said Ryan.
"In the daytime it’s fine usually. Around midnight to 4 a.m., not really," said Red Line rider Chris Canty.
The public is asked to call Chicago police if they know anything about these recent crimes.
"You will be held accountable for any of your crimes that occurred on the CTA," Police Supt. Brown said.