CTA janitor killed in stabbing after train operator attacked at Damen/Lake Green Line station

A CTA janitor died after being stabbed as he tried to intervene in an attack on a Green Line train operator at the Damen/Lake stop Thursday afternoon, police and sources say.

Chicago police said just before 3 p.m. an unknown male approached the 41-year-old janitor inside the mezzanine area of the station, got into a verbal fight that then turned physical and stabbed the victim in the neck with the sharp object.

Police sources told CBS News Chicago the incident began when a passenger on a CTA Green Line train maced a CTA operator on the train. During the altercation, a janitor who works for CTA tried to intervene, the person who attacked the train driver stabbed him.

The janitor was critically injured and was found unresponsive in a nearby room, police said. The attacker ran away westbound. 

The janitor was taken to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead.  

CTA said Green Line trains are running but are not stopping at Damen/Lake due to the police activity. They recommend commuters consider alternative routes including the #50 Damen and #20 Madison buses. 

Shuttle buses have been requested to from California/Lake and Ashland/Lake in both directions. 

No one is currently in custody. An investigation by Area Three detectives is ongoing.