A 27-year-old woman on her way to work in the Loop says she was suddenly punched from behind at the Washington and Clark crosswalk near Daley Plaza earlier this week, leaving her hurt and rattled. She recorded and posted a video of the moments after the attack, and says that since a visit to urgent care, she has stayed inside. Chicago police are investigating the assault and are asking anyone who may have seen what happened to come forward.
Speaking with ABC7 Chicago, the woman, who gave her name as Bridget, said the man was standing about six feet in front of her before he suddenly turned and hit her in the back of the neck and upper spine. “I feel too scared knowing that he’s still out there,” she told the station, adding that she has been working from home while receiving counseling. According to the report, the attacker ran off before she could turn around, and police have not announced an arrest.
Pattern of Attacks in the Loop
The assault comes amid a string of downtown incidents that have left many Loop commuters on edge. Coverage of colleague Leah Hope’s recent attack, detailed by ABC7 Chicago, has underscored the growing unease. Prosecutors and local outlets have also pointed to earlier cases in which suspects allegedly struck multiple women while on electronic monitoring, as reported by CWBChicago.
Police Response and Commuter Safety
Bridget told reporters she has not left her apartment since returning from urgent care, saying the attack has upended her routine, including her usual commute to work downtown. Detectives are reviewing available video and canvassing the Loop for witnesses as they work to identify the person who fled. The case has renewed public scrutiny of how repeat offenders are monitored and how the city tracks assaults in and around the central business district…