EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (CBS) — Police are looking for the attacker who slashed a man’s throat Monday night at the South Shore Line train station in East Chicago, Ind.
The victim, according to police, is a 28-year-old Chicago man. CBS 2′s Dana Kozlov reports the victim was waiting for his wife’s train to arrive at about 5:40 p.m. Monday, and went into the bathroom. It was there that he was attacked by the suspect.
The victim suffered slashing wounds to his neck and hand. He also lost is wallet, car keys and phone, police said.
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Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District Transit Police Chief Robert Byrd said the victim ran out of the bathroom and into the parking lot.
The attacker also ran out, then jumped into the victim’s car and sped off, heading north on Indianapolis Boulevard.
Security cameras caught images of the suspect before he drove away.
Luckily for the victim, his injuries were not life-threatening and he was treated and released from a local hospital.
Byrd said the attack was especially bold, when you consider the restroom is right across the hall from the NICTD police station. Byrd was at his desk, working at the time, unaware of the attack, an indication of just how fast it went down.
Wayne Swanson has worked in the station coffee shop for six years and said he’s always felt safe.
“I’m usually real alert in the morning. I make a path through the washroom, I make sure everything’s okay. When I leave, it’s the same thing. I do a check myself,” he said. “But I was surprised something like that happened.”
Commuters looked at the attack as a warning.
Ari Meux said, “I’ll definitely watch my surroundings, and keep my stuff close.”
The victim’s car is a silver four-door 2005 Honda Accord, and has an Illinois license plate of H713340.
Byrd said officers have been following leads all day, but still have not found the attacker or the car.
