In CHICAGO, a woman recounted her harrowing experience of being unexpectedly struck by a man during her morning commute in the Loop, speaking exclusively to ABC7 Chicago about the ordeal.
She shared a video capturing the aftermath of the incident earlier this week, which has since garnered tens of thousands of views.
Authorities in Chicago are actively searching for the suspect involved in the assault.
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This unprovoked attack occurred near Daley Plaza and follows a series of similar incidents in the Loop, one notably involving ABC7’s Leah Hope. Inspired by Leah’s earlier testimony, the latest victim felt compelled to share her own experience.
Overwhelmed with emotion, 27-year-old Bridget turned to TikTok to recount the violent episode she endured on Tuesday morning. Her video has been circulated widely, reaching hundreds of viewers.
“I’m terrified knowing he hasn’t been caught,” Bridget expressed.
The victim spoke with ABC7 inside her apartment where she says she hasn’t left since coming home from urgent care. She detailed what happened as she got into the crosswalk at Washington and Clark.
“He was already in front of me, about six feet, then all of a sudden he stops,” Bridget said. “Then he yelled something, but I didn’t think he was yelling at me. The moment I passed him, he turned around and hit me.”
She says she was hit right in the back of her neck and spine. The force almost knocked her to the ground.
“By the time I had turned around, he had already fled,” Bridget said.
ABC7’s very own Leah Hope’s story was shared earlier this week about her assault last month, which also happened downtown.
“It wasn’t the same guy, so I was kind of in shock,” Bridget said. “Like, how are there this many men out there willing to hurt women?”
In December, a judge ordered a man detained after he allegedly assaulted at least six women, including a woman named Sherri Bester, in separate incidents downtown. Police say in some of the attacks he wore an electronic ankle monitor.
The similar cases are only compounding her fears.
“The thought of leaving the house, right now, is pretty scary, which sucks because I live my life commuting, being downtown,” Bridget said. “It’s where my job is located, and I can’t do that anymore.”
Bridget says she has been working from home while receiving counseling. So far, no one has been arrested in her case.
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