CHICAGO, Illinois – A 36-year-old man is facing charges of attempted murder after allegedly brutally beating a woman on a Chicago train. Mijawon Johnson, an eight-time felon, is accused of pinning the woman to a seat and stomping her almost to death during an attempted robbery on the CTA Red Line.
The woman, who has not been identified, is not expected to survive the attack. Prosecutors said Johnson, who was on parole for armed robbery at the time of the incident, has been in and out of prison six times between 2007 and 2015.
The vicious attack took place at around 1:30 am on January 4, with Johnson allegedly stomping and punching the woman before leaving her for dead on the train. She was found brain dead by train staff at a station about 12 minutes down the line from where the attack occurred.
After the attack, Johnson was identified as the suspect and was eventually arrested on January 5 when police caught him on a CTA bus and took him into custody. He now faces charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery, in addition to a separate charge of violating an order of protection.
The community has expressed outrage at why a violent criminal with such a history was allowed on the streets. Johnson’s legal troubles date back to 2007, with previous convictions including armed robbery and aggravated battery of a police officer at a train station.
The victim, a 61-year-old woman, is currently on a ventilator and is not expected to survive her injuries. The horrific incident has raised questions about the parole system and the release of individuals with a history of violent offenses back into the community.