A food delivery driver's quick thinking and modern technology led to the rapid arrest of two suspects following a violent robbery on Chicago's CTA Red Line train.
The incident occurred on December 22nd when a 20-year-old delivery worker was attacked on an inbound train after departing the 35th Street station. Two assailants - later identified as Christopher Owens, 20, and Claude Elder, 44 - allegedly ambushed the victim, with one brandishing a knife while the other applied a chokehold.
According to court documents, the suspects repeatedly struck the victim in the face and body before stealing his electric bicycle and headphones. They exited at the Cermak Road station and transferred to a southbound train.
However, the victim had equipped his electric bike with an Apple AirTag tracking device. Police officers utilized the AirTag's location data along with CTA surveillance footage to quickly locate the suspects at a motel in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood, just over an hour after the attack.
Both Owens and Elder were arrested at the motel located on the 7600 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue. They each face felony charges of aggravated battery and aggravated robbery. A judge ordered both suspects to remain in custody until trial, with their next court appearance scheduled for Monday.
This case highlights how personal tracking devices can assist law enforcement in rapidly solving violent crimes on public transportation. The victim's foresight in using an AirTag proved instrumental in the swift apprehension of the alleged attackers.