A Chicago woman is fighting for her life after being brutally beaten by an eight-time felon on a Chicago train. Mijawon Johnson, 36, is accused of pinning the woman to a seat and stomping her almost to death during an attempted robbery. Prosecutors say the victim, a 61-year-old woman, is not expected to survive the attack.
Johnson, who was on parole for armed robbery at the time of the assault, has a history of criminal activity, with six prior stints in prison between 2007 and 2015. He now faces charges including attempted murder, which could be upgraded due to the severity of the woman’s injuries.
The attack, which occurred around 1:30am on January 4, shocked the Chicago community. Johnson was captured on surveillance footage approaching the woman on a train car, and as they attempted to steal her purse, he unleashed a violent frenzy by repeatedly punching and stomping her. The woman was found brain dead by train staff at a station 12 minutes away from the scene of the attack.
Following the identification of Johnson as the suspect, a bulletin was issued to local police precincts. He was arrested the day after the attack, and now faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery, and violating an order of protection. Johnson’s violent criminal history has sparked outrage and raised questions about why he was on the streets despite previous convictions. At the time of the train attack, he was on parole after serving half of a six-year prison sentence for armed robbery.
With the victim’s life hanging in the balance, the case has drawn attention to the issue of repeat offenders and the effectiveness of parole systems in preventing violent crimes. Johnson’s history of criminal activity and the severity of the attack have led to growing concerns about public safety and the measures in place to monitor individuals with a history of violent behavior.