Police are looking for an offender who struck a man in the head with a hammer during a robbery attempt in Lakeview on Monday evening.
The 26-year-old victim told police that he was walking on the 400 block of West Barry at 5:57 p.m. when he noticed a stranger following closely behind him.
Almost immediately, the stranger grabbed the victim’s backpack and threw him to the ground in an apparent robbery attempt. The offender then began swinging at the man with a hammer, and what appeared to be a tequila bottle, police said. At least one hammer blow struck the victim in his head, according to a CPD spokesperson.
The victim fought off the offender and ran to a nearby residential building to get help. Police said the suspect ran after the victim, but was unable to catch up.
Witnesses then saw the offender run east to Sheridan Road, where he turned southbound.
Police recovered a hammer at the attack scene.
An ambulance transported the victim to St. Joseph Hospital where his condition stabilized.
The offender is male, black, 25-35 years old, six feet tall, and 180 pounds. He wore a black shirt with white writing on the sleeves.
Area North detectives are investigating.
