A person accused of being one of many “Loop Punchers” — a bunch of unrelated males recognized for randomly attacking girls on Chicago’s streets — is now charged with assaulting two extra victims. William Livingston, 32, is already in custody awaiting trial for allegedly attacking and significantly injuring a girl within the Loop on August 19. Police say he has an extended historical past of comparable assaults.
Based on Chicago police, investigators just lately linked Livingston to 2 extra random assaults that occurred on June 12 within the 2700 block of North Clark Avenue, the place a 40-year-old lady and a 29-year-old lady have been each focused. Prosecutors have charged him with two counts of aggravated battery in a public place.
Livingston is anticipated to make his first courtroom look on the brand new fees Thursday afternoon on the Leighton Felony Courthouse.
Round 5:15 p.m. on August 19, Kathleen Miles of Lake Villa and a buddy have been strolling within the 200 block of West Washington Avenue, heading towards a prepare station, when Livingston allegedly compelled his method between them and punched Miles within the face, in response to a Chicago police report. The blow knocked her unconscious, leaving her with severe facial fractures and a extreme concussion, her daughter, Dionna Wolf, stated.
Following a freedom of data request by CWBChicago, town initially refused to launch video of the assault. Officers later relented underneath strain from the Illinois Legal professional Normal’s Workplace, permitting the general public to see the assault for the primary time. The footage exhibits Livingston strolling behind the 2 girls earlier than abruptly hanging Miles and sending her collapsing to the pavement as witnesses rush to assist.
Chicago Hearth Division medics arrived greater than 5 minutes after the assault. Cops adopted shortly after and took Livingston into custody.
Data present Livingston has been accused of comparable unprovoked assaults for years. In August 2023, he was arrested for elbowing a 27-year-old lady within the face alongside the Magnificent Mile. Though police took him into custody, prosecutors launched him, and state jail officers didn’t instantly revoke his parole. He was briefly returned to jail 10 days later however was launched but once more in January 2024.
Police say he resumed attacking girls months later. On August 14, 2024, officers noticed him punch a girl close to Chicago Avenue and Wells Avenue after a bystander flagged him down. Prosecutors charged him solely with misdemeanor reckless conduct, and he was launched the subsequent day. Lower than two weeks later, he struck a 15-year-old woman on North Michigan Avenue. He pleaded responsible to 2 misdemeanors and obtained a 100-day sentence from Choose Donald Panarese Jr.
Livingston’s report stretches again to not less than 2017, when police say he assaulted a number of girls and two law enforcement officials in separate incidents. He pleaded responsible to housebreaking and aggravated battery of a peace officer and was sentenced to probation. In 2022, he was accused of punching not less than 4 girls inside minutes within the South Loop, together with a DePaul College scholar, however once more confronted minimal penalties.
Whereas random assaults are usually not unusual in Chicago, the August 19 video’s launch has intensified public scrutiny of how repeat violent offenders like Livingston proceed to cycle by way of the system and return to metropolis streets.
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