CHICAGO, IL – A brutal attack aboard a Red Line train has left a 61-year-old woman brain-dead, and the suspect, 36-year-old Mijawon Johnson, is now facing charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery, and violating an order of protection. Johnson, who was on parole for armed robbery, was detained by a Cook County judge on Sunday.
The incident took place near the Roosevelt station in the South Loop, where the woman was discovered unresponsive by CTA employees in the early hours of Thursday. Video footage from the CTA led investigators to Johnson, who, along with another suspect, was seen beating and robbing the woman on the train. According to court documents, Johnson attempted to steal the woman’s bag, held her head on a train seat while punching her, and stomped on her body, leaving her brain-dead.
The victim suffered cuts and bruises to her face, broken ribs, and trauma to her body. She remains in critical condition on a ventilator at Stroger Hospital. Johnson, who was paroled in 2021 after an armed robbery conviction, is also facing a misdemeanor count of violating an order of protection from a previous incident.
Violent crime on the CTA has decreased by 2% in 2023 compared to 2022, according to Chicago police statistics. However, there were at least 24 reports of criminal sexual assault on CTA properties in 2023, according to city data.
Johnson is due back in court on Friday, and the investigation is ongoing to determine any potential connection between the attack and a previous protection order violation.
In summary, the brutal attack aboard a Red Line train has left the victim brain-dead, and the suspect, Mijawon Johnson, is facing charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery. The incident has raised concerns about safety on CTA properties, despite a decrease in violent crime in 2023. The victim remains in critical condition, and the investigation is continuing.