CHICAGO — Prosecutors say a man who stabbed and robbed a CTA passenger aboard a Red Line train continued to follow the fleeing victim while wielding a knife—until the victim whacked him with a bottle. Chicago police officers arrested the suspect, 31-year-old David Davis, shortly after the robbery thanks to quick work by a CTA surveillance camera operator.
A 31-year-old Calumet City man was riding the train near Cermak-Chinatown when Davis confronted him and demanded his phone around 1 a.m. on March 7, according to prosecutors.
When the victim refused to comply, Davis allegedly pulled out a knife and lunged at the man, who was still seated. The victim suffered a stab wound to his right tricep, which required three stitches to close.
Prosecutors said the injured victim pushed Davis away and walked to the end of their train car, but Davis continued to follow him between cars and onto the Cermak-Chinatown platform while extending the knife.
Davis retreated to a northbound train after the victim struck him with a bottle on the platform, officials said.
A CTA surveillance camera operator provided responding officers with a description of the assailant, saying he boarded a northbound train with a knife in his hand. Cops intercepted the train at State-Lake and took Davis into custody, according to a Chicago police report.
The officers allegedly found a folding knife in Davis’ jacket pocket.
Davis is charged with attempted armed robbery, aggravated battery of a transit passenger, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and cocaine possession. Judge Deidre Dyer ordered him held in the Cook County jail as a public safety risk.
