Police say the attack happened at rush hour on a Cicero Avenue route and left the victim with severe head injuries.
CHICAGO — Two 15-year-olds were arrested and charged after a 62-year-old man was beaten aboard a Chicago Transit Authority bus last week on the West Side, police said Tuesday. The assault happened about 5:40 p.m. Dec. 16 in the 700 block of South Cicero Avenue as the bus approached the I-290 ramp.
Authorities said the teens, a boy and a girl, are accused of punching and kicking the passenger during an argument that broke out near the front of the vehicle. The man, identified by relatives as Larry Gilkey, suffered serious head trauma and was taken to a hospital, where family members said he was placed in a medically induced coma before he regained consciousness. Detectives opened an aggravated battery investigation and circulated images of three suspects. The two juveniles were taken into custody this week; a third person was still being sought at the time of the initial arrests, according to police.
Police said the bus was traveling north on Cicero, near Roosevelt Road, when three teens confronted Gilkey. Family members said he had offered to help one of the youths with bus fare moments before the beating. “He woke up and didn’t even know where he was,” a nephew said, describing the first hours after doctors eased sedation. The driver stopped and notified dispatch as other riders moved away from the struggle. Investigators later gathered camera footage from the bus and nearby businesses. The CTA said it was assisting police and reviewing safety protocols for the route.
Detectives said the two 15-year-olds were arrested on the West Side and face counts of aggravated battery to a person over 60 and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm. Their names were not released because they are juveniles. The third suspect, described by police as an older teen or young adult seen wearing a dark jacket, was being sought following the initial charges. The man’s current condition was listed as serious but stable, according to relatives. Officials have not said what sparked the confrontation beyond the exchange described by the family. No weapon was recovered from the bus, police said.
The attack drew attention because it unfolded on a heavily used corridor linking South Austin and the Eisenhower Expressway. Transit officials said cameras are standard on buses and can provide multiple angles of incidents on board. Records show police have added special attention to several CTA lines on the West Side in recent months after a series of robberies and batteries involving teens. Advocates and some riders have pressed for more uniformed patrols during the evening rush, while city officials have pointed to joint operations between the CTA and police along key routes.
Police said the juvenile charges were reviewed by prosecutors after the teens were questioned in the presence of guardians. A detention hearing for each is expected in juvenile court this week, though precise dates were not immediately available. Detectives said they were continuing to collect witness statements and compare them with the video timeline to determine whether additional counts are warranted. The department plans to release an updated incident report if the third suspect is taken into custody or if the charges change following further review.
Riders at the stop near Roosevelt and Cicero on Tuesday described a busy, noisy corner where buses fill quickly at the end of the workday. “It’s crowded and tense around that time,” said Tony Jackson, who boards there most evenings. “People just want to get home.” Outside the hospital, relatives said they were focused on the man’s recovery. “We’re grateful he’s awake,” the nephew said. “We want whoever did this to be held responsible.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, the two 15-year-olds remained in custody pending juvenile court appearances, and detectives said they were still reviewing footage from the Dec. 16 attack for any additional suspects. The next police update is expected later this week.
Author note: Last updated December 23, 2025.