The 35-year-old victim, who uses a wheelchair, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition.
CHICAGO, IL — Chicago police say a woman was sexually assaulted inside the Jackson CTA Red Line station early Thursday, shortly before 3 a.m., and the attacker fled on foot. The woman, 35, was brought to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and listed in good condition.
The incident comes during a week of heightened scrutiny of safety on Chicago’s transit system and days after federal officials warned the city it could lose transit funding if conditions do not improve. Detectives opened an investigation after the pre-dawn assault on CTA property in the 200 block of South State Street. No arrest had been announced as of Thursday afternoon, and police did not release a suspect description. The case adds urgency to ongoing debates over policing, private security and new safety pilots on trains and at downtown stations.
Police said the assault was reported around 2:57 a.m. at the Jackson stop that serves the Red Line beneath State Street. Witnesses told officers they heard the victim scream near the station’s elevator area but could not see the attack from the lower platform. After the assailant ran off, the woman sought help and was transported for treatment. A transit canine security officer responded to the scene before detectives arrived, according to preliminary accounts. “We do have to look at what the security apparatus looks like for public transportation,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said this week while addressing federal safety demands. Investigators on Thursday canvassed the station area for cameras and witnesses as early-morning trains continued to run through the Loop.
The victim told police she uses a wheelchair, and preliminary reports indicated she was assaulted on CTA property within the station complex. Police said she was stabilized at Northwestern Memorial Hospital; her identity was not released. As of late afternoon, no one was in custody and detectives were reviewing evidence. Authorities did not publicly describe the attacker or say whether a weapon was used. Riders who were in the station at the time reported hearing screams around the time of the incident and watching officers tape off an area near elevators that connect the concourse and platform. Ald. Brendan Reilly, who represents parts of downtown, said this week he favors adding sworn officers on trains over private security. “They should be using CPD officers on an overtime program and have them actually deployed onto trains from time to time,” Reilly said.
Thursday’s assault follows a string of high-profile crimes on CTA property this year, including violent attacks that have drawn national attention and federal intervention. On Tuesday, federal transportation officials warned Chicago leaders that some funding could be withheld if the transit agency does not bolster safety and law enforcement presence systemwide. Transportation analyst Joe Schwieterman said the new city pilot to place non-police “safety specialists” across the network is a start, but details remain unsettled. “It’s long overdue for a holistic policy to help the unhoused but make the transportation system seem safer,” he said, noting ridership concerns after dark. City data reviewed this week showed reported violent crimes on CTA property tracking slightly below last year to date but still well above pre-2019 levels.
Investigators said they would determine whether the assault was captured by station or platform cameras and whether any digital evidence can identify the suspect’s path after leaving the station. Police did not say if a community alert would be issued, and no charges had been filed as of Thursday evening. City officials said the CTA’s planned pilot, which would use outside partners to staff and train non-police specialists, is being developed through the agency’s innovation program. The Federal Transit Administration has ordered updates to the system’s safety plan and an immediate increase in law enforcement presence as conditions of continued funding. Officials did not release a timeline for when added staffing or policy changes will reach the Jackson station itself.
Morning riders passing through the Red Line platforms described a heavier police presence after sunrise and yellow tape marking an elevator bank as detectives worked. Transit workers guided passengers around a portion of the concourse as trains rolled in. “I think the public is demanding something like this,” Schwieterman said of the stepped-up efforts, adding that policy direction from City Hall could help “make the transportation system seem safer.” Reilly said downtown commuters “want to see police on the trains,” while acknowledging the CTA still contracts private security for some stations. For people waiting in the Loop, the morning commute resumed with periodic announcements as investigators checked stairwells and platforms for clues.
As of Thursday night, police said no arrests had been made and the investigation remains active. Detectives are expected to review additional camera footage and interview witnesses in the coming days. City officials said more details on the CTA safety pilot and enforcement plans are expected later this month.
Author note: Last updated December 11, 2025.