Late-night riders on the South Side Red Line were swept into chaos earlier this month, and prosecutors now say they know who was behind it. Chicago police have charged 23-year-old Briana Bush in a Jan. 5 stabbing near the CTA's 69th Street stop that left a man and a woman wounded. Bush was arrested this week and is expected in court for a detention hearing on Friday.
Charges and arrest
Bush faces one count of attempted first-degree murder and several counts of aggravated battery, including allegations that she used a deadly weapon and caused great bodily harm, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Where and when it happened
The confrontation erupted around 10:53 p.m. on Jan. 5 at the 69th Street Red Line platform in the Greater Grand Crossing/Englewood area, ABC7 Chicago reported. Officers found a 37-year-old woman on the platform with a puncture wound to the right side of her chest and a 24-year-old man with a stab wound to his upper back. Both were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition, according to ABC7.
Arrest and next steps
Detectives arrested Bush around 9:16 a.m. on Jan. 28 in the 10400 block of South State Street in the Roseland neighborhood, according to FOX 32 Chicago. She is due back in court Friday for a detention hearing, and investigators told FOX 32 it is still unclear what sparked the confrontation or whether additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues.
Transit safety backdrop
The case lands at a time when the Chicago Transit Authority is already under federal pressure over passenger safety. The Federal Transit Administration recently labeled CTA's safety plan "materially deficient" and warned it could withhold up to $50 million in funding if the agency does not submit a stronger plan, according to the Federal Transit Administration. Hoodline's earlier breakdown of the stabbing laid out the initial scene at 69th Street and how the incident fits into a string of recent attacks on CTA property.
Legal implications
Along with the attempted murder charge, Bush is accused of multiple counts of aggravated battery, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. At Friday's detention hearing, a judge will decide whether she remains in custody while the case moves toward trial, according to the Sun-Times.
What remains unknown
Police have not released any information about a possible motive in the stabbing, and detectives are asking anyone with information to contact Area One, ABC7 Chicago reported. Court filings and official statements after Friday's hearing could shed more light on what led to the Red Line confrontation.
