An 18-Year-Old Man Charged in Violent Robbery on Red Line Train
An 18-year-old man, Joell Hutson, has been charged in connection with a violent robbery that took place on a Red Line train last month. The incident involved a 28-year-old woman who was beaten, kicked, and robbed by a group of attackers. Hutson is facing charges of armed robbery and was detained by Judge Rivanda Doss Beal.
The attack occurred on June 21 when the victim and a friend boarded a southbound Red Line train at Roosevelt around 1:45 a.m. Upon reaching the Garfield stop, a group of eight individuals, three of whom were recognized by the victim from a previous attack, boarded the train.
The victim, fearing for her safety, attempted to exit the train. However, Hutson allegedly grabbed her backpack strap, while another person unzipped the bag. When she tried to protect her bag by moving it to her front, several members of the group started punching her. The victim fell to the floor, still holding onto her bag, but the attackers, including Hutson, continued to assault her.
While one of the attackers restrained her, 23-year-old Aallyah Gist allegedly kicked the victim multiple times in the head and body. Another individual used a knife to cut the backpack straps, and the group fled with the bag at the 69th Street station. Hutson reportedly took the victim’s phone and speaker before fleeing. The victim exited the train and alerted K-9 security personnel.
Surveillance cameras captured the assault, and images were released by the police on June 28. Hutson was identified in the footage by a woman who knows him, leading to his recent arrest by mass transit officers during a premise check at the 69th Street station.
Hutson has a record of five arrests since turning 18 last August, including an arrest just three days before the robbery:
- September 30: Charged with possessing a replica firearm and reckless conduct at Jewel-Osco; charges were later dropped.
- November 19: Arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon at the 79th Street Red Line; charges dropped in December.
- March 16: Arrested for misdemeanor battery and resisting in the 8100 block of South La Salle; charges dropped in May.
- June 18: Arrested for criminal trespass to a vehicle in the 100 block of West 87th Street.
Gist, who has no prior criminal record, turned herself in and confessed to her involvement in the incident. Judge Luciano Panici Jr. denied a detention petition for her and instead placed her on electronic monitoring.
Along with Hutson and Gist, four juveniles have also been charged in connection with the robbery. The identities of the juveniles are protected by state law, but police have revealed that they include three boys (ages 14, 15, and 15) and a 14-year-old girl. All individuals face felony charges ranging from armed robbery with a dangerous weapon to aggravated battery of a transit employee.
