Man beat CTA commuters with gun, Chicago police say

Chicago police are trying to find a man who they say appears to be randomly beating people with a handgun.

The first incident occurred on August 2 shortly before 7 a.m. on the CTA Blue Line-Clinton platform. The second incident happened on August 4 shortly before 9 a.m. at the CTA Blue Line-Western station.

In both attacks, police say the man approached the victims, a 21-year-old man and 39-year-old woman, and struck them in the head with a handgun that he pulled from his backpack.

"I mean it’s crazy, but then again, it’s Chicago, you always gotta be aware," said Jason Galon of Wicker Park.

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The suspect is described as an African American man, 30-40 years of age, wearing a light colored hooded sweatshirt, light colored jeans and black-colored gym shoes.

"It’s getting bad (on the CTA)," suburban resident Daniel Savage said.

The attacks come after several reported stabbings in previous weeks on the CTA.

In addition to other citywide violence, those who have no choice but to rely on public transit say they’re now paying extra attention to their surroundings. Galon says when on the train, he’s now looking around more, with his headphones off and his iPhone in his pocket.

If you have any information on these two attacks, you are asked to call the Bureau of Detectives – Mass Transit at 312-745-4443. Anonymous tips can be submitted at CPDtip.com.