CTA employee fatally stabbed at Damen Green Line station, Chicago police say
CTA janitor fatally stabbed at Green Line station, police say
A CTA employee is dead after being stabbed at a Green Line station Thursday afternoon, according to authorities.
CHICAGO - A CTA employee is dead after being stabbed at a Green Line station Thursday afternoon, according to authorities.
Deadly stabbing near CTA Green Line station
What we know:
The stabbing happened around 3 p.m. at the Damen Green Line station in the 2000 block of West Lake Street on Chicago's West Side.
Chicago police said a male suspect approached a customer service agent in the station's mezzanine area and got into an altercation, allegedly spraying mace.
Another CTA employee, a 41-year-old man who was a rail maintenance janitor, tried to stop the suspect and was stabbed in the neck, according to authorities.
The suspect fled west from the station. Officers found the stabbed employee unresponsive in a nearby room, according to police.
He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to ATU Local 308, the employee was identified as Julian Mobley, who has been with the union since 2018. He was a father, husband, and leaves behind his wife of 20 years and two children, a 14-year-old and an 18-month-old.
Officials give update on deadly stabbing at CTA Green Line station
Officials gave an update late Thursday afternoon on a stabbing that left a CTA employee dead at a Green Line station.
What they're saying:
"Another life lost while simply doing their job, another family shattered and a union that is tired of grieving its own," said President of CTA Union Local 308, Pennie McCoach, said.
"He was a gentleman, a kind gentleman, a real man. You know, was he protective? Would he help the operator? Maybe so. He wasn’t the kind to be physical or threatening to the customers," said fellow rail janitor Audrey Veasley.
Ald. James Gardiner, of the 45th Ward, said he is pushing for stricter penalties for offenders who victimize CTA employees.
"What else needs to happen? How many times do we have to see unfortunate incidents occur before we start to see some change? Before we start to enforce laws? Before we start to allow police officers to stop individuals or get individuals who shouldn’t be on our trains off? They are every day, jeopardizing the lives of not only riders but CTA employees and it’s obvious and that’s what happened today," Gardiner said.
What's next:
Police are still looking for the suspect involved. He's described as being Hispanic with blond hair and was wearing a black hat and clothing and white gym shoes.
The Source: The information in this article was provided by Case Files Chicago, Chicago police and ATU Local 308.