“Let’s run their pockets, beat their *sses, and take their cell phones!”
That’s what two robbery victims allegedly heard before a group of five robbers attacked them at the Roosevelt Red Line station, prosecutors said Thursday.
The victims, females ages 15 and 18, were at the station around midnight on January 2 when the group approached and asked one of the victims who they were talking to on the phone, Assistant State’s Attorney Zachary Peasall said.
That’s when a member of the group yelled hollered the ominous suggestion to attack and rob the victims, according to Peasall.
One of the victims told the group they didn’t want any problems, but the attack began. Peasall said the group, which included men and women, punched the victims from behind and struck them in their heads and body.
Raven Johnson, 20, punched one of the victims repeatedly and went through her pockets, Peasall said. The other victim’s phone fell to the ground during the attack. Another female attacker ran away with it.
At least one of the victims identified Johnson in a photo line-up, Peasall said. Prosecutors charged her with two counts of felony robbery. No charges were announced against any other members of the group.
Johnson’s public defender said she is the mother of one-year-old twins.
Judge Susana Ortiz set Johnson’s bail at $10,000, meaning she must post a $1,000 deposit to get out of jail. Ortiz ordered her to go onto electronic monitoring if she does get out.
CWBChicago reported last month that, while ridership on the CTA’s train system remains significantly lower than during the pre-COVID era, city statistics show that robberies and violent attacks on the L system from downtown to the North Side are at their highest point in at least ten years.
Surprisingly, robbery reports were up significantly in 2021 even when compared to many pre-COVID years when ridership was strong, we reported. Muggings on the famed train system were up more than 100% compared to pre-COVID era lows in 2015 and 2014 as of December.
