CHICAGO (WGN) — Chicago police are investigating a string of stabbings on CTA property after a man was seriously wounded early Sunday on the Red Line, marking the fourth such attack in five days.
The most recent incident happened early Sunday morning on the Red Line at West 69th Street. Police say a 34-year-old man got into a heated argument with another person while on the train. The other individual allegedly attacked him, stabbing him in the chest. The victim was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
That same Red Line location was also the scene of another attack days earlier. Around 11 p.m. Tuesday, a man and woman were stabbed by a suspect armed with a sharp object. Both victims are expected to be OK.
A 37-year-old man was stabbed to death at the Clark/Lake station located in the 100 block of West Lake Street, in the Loop. just before 2:30 a.m. Saturday. He was found unresponsive with wounds to his chest and stomach. It remains unclear whether the attack happened on a train or on the platform.
The recent attacks come as federal funding for the CTA remains uncertain. The agency could lose up to $50 million.
The Federal Transit Administration has threatened to withhold the money unless the CTA develops and implements new safety measures aimed at reducing crime and improving rider security.
A proposal submitted by the CTA was rejected last month, leaving about 60 days for the agency to present a new plan.
According to Chicago police, more than 1,600 CTA-related crimes were reported in 2025 on buses, trains and platforms.
Sources told WGN that represents nearly a 9% decrease from the previous year, with homicides down about 20% and overall shooting incidents falling by more than 27%.