Woman, 31, fatally stabbed in Loop attack, suspect sought

Chicago Police Supt. David Brown, center, walks over to reporters at the scene where a 31-year-old woman was fatally stabbed Saturday afternoon in the 400 block of South Wacker Drive in The Loop neighborhood. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

A 31-year-old woman died after being attacked by a person with a knife Saturday afternoon in the Loop.

The woman was walking about 4 p.m. in the 400 block of South Wacker Drive when she was attacked by a male who stabbed her in her upper back, according to Chicago police.

She was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, police said.

Her attacker fled south and had not been taken into custody.

Supt. David Brown said investigators were tracking down several leads and reviewing police POD camera footage that may have recorded the suspect.

Brown said at least one witness was cooperating with investigators and said the surveillance video, although grainy, will give police a route to pursue the suspect.

“We are utilizing all of the resources that we have,” Brown told reporters during a press conference near the crime scene.

Chicago police mark potential evidence while investigating the fatal stabbing of a 31-year-old woman Saturday in the Loop’s 400 block of South Wacker Drive.

Brown said the woman’s attacker was believed to be homeless and noted a nearby encampment below the Interstate 290 overpass that is in the block. Brown said the suspect may have concealed himself in high vegetation where the woman was attacked and surprised her, but noted that he was only speculating.

“As you can see this area is pretty secluded, going down this ramp is not a well-traveled area, it’s adjacent to a homeless encampment,” Brown said.

Police taped off an area on Van Buren Street where Upper and Lower Wacker drives meet. Detectives could be seen canvassing an adjacent park as well as a parking lot looking for evidence.

The attack happened about a block from Willis Tower, a popular tourist attraction, and in an area that is also close to the Old Chicago Main Post Office and Union Station.

During the week, Brown said, the area is busier than on weekends.

“The larger tourism and foot traffic is away from this area, Brown said.

Brown declined to provide details about the victim, saying police were working to notify her family and determine what she was doing in the area.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office has not released her identity.

“Crime is down downtown,” Brown said when asked what he would say to people to work in and visit the Loop. “Overall crime is down downtown. But one crime is too many. And we take every one of those crimes ... very seriously.”