CHICAGO — A 63-year-old man riding home after a long workday was violently attacked by a group of teenagers aboard a CTA Orange Line train Monday night. The incident, which took place near the LaSalle/Van Buren stop, left the man bloodied and shaken — and now speaking out.
“I Was Literally Running Through a Gauntlet of Fists”
Michael Manning, a lifelong Chicago resident, told FOX 32 he had just finished a 12-hour shift and was minding his business when a group of more than a dozen teens boarded the train around 11 p.m. He sensed trouble immediately.
“I knew right away that this was not going to go well, no matter what I said or did,” Manning said. “I stood up, and I’m 6’4″, and I guess that was not a good move.”
He was punched in the back of the head and stumbled forward — right into the group, which accused him of trying to start a fight. That’s when the beating began.
“It was like I was literally running through a gauntlet of fists,” he said.
The Teens Followed Him Off the Train
Manning attempted to escape at the Quincy stop, but the group followed him onto the platform and continued the assault. He said they stole a few of his belongings before jumping back on the train and leaving him bloodied.
Despite the beating, Manning was grateful to be alive.
“They just pounded on me, and I knew I had to get off this car to, like, not die.”
The Chicago Police Department is now working with CTA investigators to review surveillance footage and identify the attackers. The report from FOX 32 Chicago noted that both law enforcement and transit officials are treating the incident with urgency.
Victim Speaks Out on Lawlessness, Vows to Avoid CTA
Manning says he won’t be riding the CTA anytime soon.
“I don’t understand how you can have this type of lawlessness and wanton disrespect for basic humanity,” he said. “There’s no checks and balances anywhere.”
He hopes his experience raises awareness about rising public transit crime and calls for greater safety protocols, especially for late-night riders.
Have you or someone you know experienced violence or threats while using the CTA? Share your story and ideas for safer transit at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
Oh this is sickening behavior ,jumping on a senior.
You’re absolutely right — this kind of violence, especially against seniors, is deeply disturbing and unacceptable. Thank you for speaking out. Stories like this remind us why it’s so important to raise awareness and demand stronger transit safety and accountability across Chicago.
We appreciate your engagement, and we’ll continue covering these critical issues.
— ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com Team
I had a like incident when I got on at Washington on the blue line heading home from work. Three teens blocked my entrance in an attempt to keep me off the train. They blocked me because I saw them pulling the door release cord while the conductor announced not to open the doors after stopping short of her intended stop. She wanted to maneuver the train further when the teens stopped it by pulling the cord. I nodded in disapproval as I looked at the them. In retaliation they said ‘loik the other way!” And tried to prevent me from boarding I pushed through and took a beating. Scariest ride if my life. They continued to assault me until Clarke and Lake and then tried to push me off the train at the next stop. The conductor promised assistance and police assistance during the ride and the police did not come after I gave in and we all got off. The security firm refused to call the police, even though my lips were bloodied and swelling. The police came after 45 minutes. Nothing ever came if my report. The teens knew the drill and stayed for quite a while while I pleaded for assistance from a security guard, laughing all along. They knew the drill. They knew assistance was not forthcoming. I did not.
Hi Glenn,
Thank you for sharing your story — we’re so sorry you experienced this. What you described sounds incredibly frightening, and it highlights the urgent concerns many riders have about safety and accountability on CTA trains.
We take stories like yours seriously and encourage anyone who has gone through a similar experience to speak up. While we cannot independently verify every incident, your voice adds an important layer to this public discussion.
If you’re open to it, we’d love to follow up privately for a deeper conversation or help point you toward resources for filing an official complaint or seeking support. Please feel free to reach out to us.
Stay safe,
Chicago Suburban Family Team
Will keep getting worse until we can elect a mayor that’s not afraid to acknowledge the real problem
The parents should be held liable and receive legal repercussions