Two 15-year-olds are in custody after a 62-year-old man was left with severe head injuries following an attack on a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus.
The incident occurred last Tuesday evening in the 700 block of South Cicero Avenue.
According to police, the victim, identified by family as Larry Gilkey, had left his home to buy cigarettes when the encounter turned violent.
Family members say Gilkey was attacked while trying to help.
One of the teens reportedly asked Gilkey for two dollars for bus fare. When Gilkey reached into his pocket to provide the money, a second teen struck him.
“He wanted to help someone and it turned out a different way,” Gilkey’s nephew told Fox 32 Chicago.
Gilkey suffered severe head trauma and was placed in a medically induced coma for nearly a week.
While he has since regained consciousness, his family says he is disoriented and faces a long, uncertain recovery.
Chicago Police used CTA surveillance footage to identify the suspects.
A 15-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl now face felony charges, including:
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Aggravated battery of a victim over age 60.
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Aggravated battery causing great bodily harm.
The attack has renewed calls for increased security on Chicago’s public transit system.
Gilkey’s family urged city officials to develop a better plan to protect commuters.
“They need to come up with a plan to curb the violence,” his nephew said. “They have to protect the citizens.”
