An Evanston homeless man was stabbed repeatedly just outside the Davis Street El station Saturday morning in what police said was an unusually violent daytime crime.
“We haven’t had anything of this serious nature in a while in the downtown area,” said Cmdr. James Elliot.
The 38-year-old resident was walking in the bus turn-around at 909 Davis St. when he began talking with female acquaintances.
According to police, three unknown men then approached the victim and began to argue with him. The fight came to a head when one of the men drew a knife and stabbed the victim in the chest and abdomen.
The attacker left the area, but police detained his two companions. The men were later released after witnesses said the two were not involved in the crime.
The victim was treated at St. Francis Hospital, 355 Ridge Ave., and released later Saturday.
The man was described as about six feet tall, and wearing a gray skull cap, black jacket and blue jeans.
Violent crime is rare in downtown Evanston, Elliot said. Officers are hired to work overtime in the area during weekends, but patrol at night, not 11 a.m., when the stabbing occurred.
Several El riders approached on the Davis Street platform Monday had not heard of the incident, but said they were shocked such an event happened a block from Urban Outfitters and Borders.
“I always felt pretty safe around here,” Chicago resident Phillis Davenport said before boarding the train. “At least I used to.”
The last time police dealt with serious offenses in the area was last summer, when a band of teenagers committed a series of robberies. But those incidents weren’t violent, Elliot said.
Members of the city’s homeless community also said they were surprised.
“This is a nice place. The cops are good here,” said Aaron Morrison, 40, who regularly stands outside the CVS Pharmacy on Sherman Avenue. “I’m from the South Side. This place is Mayberry.”
Still, Purple Line commuters said they understand there is an inherent risk with public transportation in an urban environment.
“Evanston is safe,” said Northwestern graduate student Maha Jafri, 24. “But I think it’s a place people think is safer than it actually is because of the suburban character.”
After commuting from Rogers Park for the past 20 years, Davenport, 52, said she doesn’t plan to do anything different.
“If I changed how I live, I’d have to stay in every day, ” she said.
