A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to trying to kill a rival gang member during a random encounter at a South Loop CTA station.
Vidal Herazo received the sentence from Judge Laura Ayala-Gonzalez after pleading guilty to attempted murder, according to court records. With credit for time served and good behavior, he is expected to be released after serving three years, on June 4, 2026.
Prosecutors said Herazo attacked a rival gang member after a brief, hostile exchange at the Roosevelt Red Line station late on June 16, 2023. According to court records, Herazo exited a train and flashed a Two-Six gang hand sign as he passed the victim on the platform. The victim, identified as a Latin King, responded with his own gang gesture, leading to an altercation.
The confrontation quickly escalated. Prosecutors said the victim pulled out a knife, then put it away before punching Herazo in the face. Herazo allegedly drew his own knife, chased the man down the length of the platform, and stabbed him three times in the head and once in the arm…