A 15-year-old boy is now facing felony charges after what police describe as two violent downtown attacks that unfolded within roughly 30 minutes on April 14. In one case, a 35-year-old man was beaten on a CTA train near the Roosevelt station; in the other, a 12-year-old girl was the victim of an aggravated battery on the 600 block of South State Street. Authorities say the teen was arrested this week and is now charged in connection with both incidents.
Chicago police report that officers took the teen into custody Wednesday morning in the 8100 block of South Vincennes Avenue. He is charged with one felony count of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and one felony count of aggravated battery involving a transit passenger, according to the Chicago Police Department, as reported by Fox 32 Chicago.
Transit safety in the spotlight
The case lands at a tense moment for transit riders. An analysis found aggravated assaults and batteries on the CTA hit a 24-year high in 2025 and stayed elevated into 2026, putting serious pressure on city officials and transit bosses. That spike has led to boosted patrols and other security steps on trains and platforms, according to reporting by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Detectives ask riders to check phone footage
Area 3 public-transportation detectives have been urging CTA riders to scroll back through their phone and camera footage for anything that might help crack downtown transit cases. Hoodline previously reported on detectives' outreach and the mass-transit tip line for these incidents, noting that investigators asked anyone with video to call Mass Transit detectives at (312) 745-4447 or send an anonymous tip through CPDTIP.com, as reported in cops scouring riders' phones.
Legal note
Police say the 15-year-old is currently facing two felony aggravated-battery counts, based on the Chicago Police Department's statements to reporters. Officials have not released further information about the victims' injuries or a court date, and both prosecutors and police say the investigation is still active and more details will be shared when available, per Fox 32 Chicago.
