STORY YOUMISSED
UPDATE: The president of the CTA workers’ union spoke publicly about the stabbing Thursday evening. Pennie McCoach, President of ATU Local 308, identified the victim as a CTA janitor named Julian Mobley. (ARTICLE UPDATED BELOW).
A 41-year-old Chicago Transit Authority janitor died Thursday afternoon after being stabbed while attempting to protect a fellow transit worker.
The fatal altercation began shortly before 3:00 p.m. aboard a CTA Green Line train at the Damen/Lake station on the Near West Side.
Police sources report that an unknown male passenger sprayed a chemical agent directly into the face of a CTA train operator.
The janitor observed the violent confrontation inside the station mezzanine area and immediately stepped in to intervene.
A verbal argument broke out between the suspect and the intervening worker before quickly escalating into a physical struggle.
The suspect pulled out a sharp object and stabbed the 41-year-old janitor directly in the neck.
The attacker fled the scene on foot and ran westbound away from the elevated platform immediately following the stabbing.
Responding police officers located the injured janitor unresponsive in a nearby room inside the station complex.
Emergency medical crews rushed the victim to Stroger Hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Medical personnel at Stroger Hospital pronounced the 41-year-old janitor dead shortly after his arrival.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308 President Pennie McCoach identified the victim as 41-year-old CTA janitor Julian Mobley.
Mobley served as a dedicated CTA employee and union member since 2018.
He leaves behind his wife of 20 years and two children, ages 14 years and 18 months.
Union board member Audrey Veasley remembered Mobley as a kind gentleman who spoke passionately about his family.
McCoach publicly condemned the killing as a preventable safety failure by transit management.
She called for immediate action from the CTA, including increased security, better training, and a review of safety protocols.
Mobley marks the second CTA employee killed on duty in recent months following the fatal June shooting of switchman Kevin Barlow.
McCoach also challenged recent CTA reports claiming a six-month decline in system-wide crime.
She stated that daily reports of assaults against transit workers prove official crime statistics are inaccurate.
The CTA released an official statement extending heartfelt condolences to the family, loved ones, and coworkers of their beloved employee.
Transit officials confirmed they are actively working to share station surveillance video of the attack with police investigators.
The transit agency pledged full support for law enforcement to ensure prosecutors hold the offender accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to our colleague’s family, loved ones and coworkers,” the transit agency said. “We will support law enforcement officials’ efforts to ensure that the offender is apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Chicago police officers secured the mezzanine and surrounding transit platform with yellow crime scene tape to preserve physical evidence.
CTA supervisors instructed Green Line trains to bypass the Damen/Lake station while law enforcement processed the homicide scene.
Transit officials deployed emergency shuttle buses between the California and Ashland stations to assist stranded commuters.
Normal service was restored on the Green Line at approximately 8:00 p.m. following the completion of initial on-site police work.
The CTA previously advised passengers to use the #50 Damen or #20 Madison bus lines as alternative travel options throughout the evening.
Area Three detectives launched an active homicide investigation and are conducting a canvass of local security camera footage to identify the suspect.
Law enforcement personnel confirmed that no suspect is currently in custody following the fatal attack.
