The stabbing that left a teenage boy in critical condition near the North-Clybourn Red Line station early Monday was part of an attempted narcotics rip-off, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.
“It had nothing to do with the CTA,” the source said.
Police said the teen, who turned 16 on Sunday, was walking on the 1600 block of North Bissell with another male when two offenders got out of a silver Charger and began chasing them just before 1 a.m.
The offenders stabbed the South Shore resident in the chest, ear, arm, and leg, according to a police statement and a CPD report.
A source said the two offenders were buying drugs from the 16-year-old when they decided to try robbing him instead.
The injured teen then ran to the Red Line to get help, according to the source.
Minutes before the attack, police responded to the area after another 911 caller reported seeing a group of males checking for unlocked car doors. Officers handling that call stopped a silver Dodge Charger with three occupants for investigation on the 1800 block of North Sheffield. The three—two males and a female—were taken in for questioning after a witness identified them as being involved in the stabbing.