Update September 3, 2021: The victim, identified Jessica Vilaythong, has died, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
A River North bank employee is in critical condition after a man stabbed her in the neck Wednesday morning. Police arrested a suspect and recovered a knife in the Loop later in the day.
The assailant entered Chase bank, 600 North Dearborn, and had a “brief conversation” with the 24-year-old woman before suddenly stabbing her in the neck around 11:12 a.m., police said. Paramedics took the victim to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Several witnesses reported seeing a man wielding a large knife as he walked through River North after the attack. They said he appeared to be mentally disturbed and possibly homeless as he ranted and threatened to stab people on the street.
“There has been an incident at one of our branches near downtown Chicago today,” the bank said in a statement. “Our thoughts right now are with our employee and their family,” Chase said in a statement.”
Around 3:45 p.m., a CPD unit spotted a man who matched the offender’s description and took him into custody at 2 North State Street. Officers also seized a knife.
Area Three detectives are investigating.
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