65-Year-Old Woman Charged with Felony After Randomly Stabbing Man on CTA Brown Line Train Platform
A 65-year-old woman, Althea Knight, is facing felony charges after prosecutors alleged that she randomly stabbed a man on a CTA Brown Line train platform in River North over the weekend. The incident took place around 9:20 p.m. on Friday, July 5, at the Chicago-Franklin Brown Line station located at 300 W. Chicago Avenue.
Knight has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery in connection with the attack. According to a detention petition, the victim and a companion were returning from a movie and preparing to exit the train when the incident occurred. The victim gestured for Knight to exit ahead of him, but when she did not respond, he proceeded towards the door. It was then that Knight approached from behind and began stabbing him in the back.
The victim’s companion witnessed the attack, stating that Knight dropped her bags, clenched an object in her fist, and started making stabbing motions into the victim’s back. The companion tried to shield the victim by raising an arm and creating distance between them and Knight, who then fled the scene.
Surveillance footage from the CTA reviewed by police showed Knight running towards the victim and stabbing him in the back. The video also captured the witness stepping in to protect the victim. Upon responding, officers found Knight inside the first car of the train and recovered two knives near her waistband. The victim was treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for two lacerations to the back of his right shoulder.
Judge James Murphy III ordered Knight to be held in custody, describing the incident as a “savage and random attack” that was carried out “for no reason.”
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