Chicago police are asking for the public’s help tracking down five people they say attacked two passengers on a CTA bus on the city’s South Side, turning an ordinary afternoon commute into a crime scene.
Authorities say the assault happened shortly after 3:30 p.m. on May 8 in the 1300 block of West 98th Street. Investigators report that a group of five struck and kicked the victims. Police have not said whether the injured riders were hospitalized.
Detectives released descriptions of the five suspects: a Black man wearing a black coat and black pants; a Black woman in a black coat with a red shirt and braids; a Black woman wearing a pink shower cap and a black shirt; a Black man in a black hooded sweatshirt; and a Black woman wearing a white shirt. As reported by FOX 32 Chicago, police are asking anyone with information to contact the Bureau of Detectives, Mass Transit at 312-745-4447 and reference report No. JK247060.
Federal oversight and transit safety
The Federal Transit Administration turned up the heat on the CTA in December, issuing a Special Directive that demands the agency measurably reduce assaults on both workers and riders. Federal officials noted that attacks on customers have risen significantly in recent years and warned that failure to roll out a credible security plan could put federal funding at risk. The message was clear: show real progress on safety or risk losing serious money.
How riders can report what they see
The CTA’s guidance on security, laid out on its CTA site, urges riders to call 911 in an emergency and, if it is safe, alert a CTA employee. For non-emergencies, riders can contact Customer Service at 1-888-YOUR-CTA or use online forms.
The agency says it works closely with the Chicago Police Department’s Public Transportation Unit and relies on an extensive camera network across buses, trains and stations. A recent Logan Square bus beatdown shows how detectives often piece together cases using a mix of CTA video and cell phone footage from riders.
Anyone with information about the 98th Street attack is asked to contact the Bureau of Detectives, Mass Transit at 312-745-4447 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com, again referencing report No. JK247060. Police told local media that tips, including photos, videos or eyewitness accounts, can be crucial to identifying the five suspects and moving the investigation forward.
