Prosecutors on Friday launched new particulars a couple of string of assaults Chicago police have linked to a so-called “Loop Puncher,” a small group of males recognized for randomly attacking girls within the downtown space and on the CTA. Whereas comparable unprovoked assaults have occurred for years, the circumstances have drawn renewed consideration in latest weeks as movies of the assaults unfold extensively throughout social media.
Derek Rucker, 37, was ordered detained Friday afternoon by Choose Deidre Dyer after prosecutors outlined a collection of violent incidents that investigators have tied to the 6-foot-5, 250-pound man. At the very least two assaults occurred this week whereas Rucker was on pretrial launch for earlier assaults.
The newest assault occurred Thursday morning in River North, the place prosecutors stated Rucker walked as much as a lady crossing Ohio Road close to State Road round 10:30 a.m. and punched her within the facet of the top with out warning. The 44-year-old sufferer fell and struck a metallic assist beam because the Rucker, sporting a brilliant orange sweatshirt, stored strolling north, then circled and handed her once more, prosecutors stated.
Officers discovered Rucker minutes later contained in the close by CTA Pink Line station at Grand Avenue, the place the sufferer recognized him as her attacker.
Investigators then linked Rucker to a different assault the earlier night on a CTA Pink Line prepare in Uptown. A 40-year-old girl informed police a person matching Rucker’s description spat in her face and ear after making eye contact together with her because the prepare approached the Wilson station. She acknowledged him from native information protection of downtown assaults and reported the incident later that evening.
Rucker was on pretrial launch for 2 different bodily assaults on the time of these incidents.
At about 1:15 p.m. on September 30, Rucker walked as much as a 23-year-old girl on the Loyola Pink Line platform and made a press release that brought about her to step away, prosecutors stated. Rucker allegedly raised his proper hand, punched the lady at the back of the top, then sat down on a bench.
Chicago police arrested him on the scene and took him to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston for therapy of an undisclosed situation. Whereas below police guard on the hospital, Rucker struck an officer who was standing watch over him, prosecutors stated Friday.
Regardless of these allegations, Rucker was launched from custody with out showing earlier than a choose, a choice that allowed him to victimize extra folks, based on the allegations.
Investigators have additionally linked Rucker to a different assault on the Pink Line, this one round 5:30 p.m. on September 21 close to the Belmont cease. Prosecutors stated a 27-year-old girl had simply boarded a southbound prepare at Addison when Rucker entered from an adjoining automobile and threatened to spit on her. He then allegedly adopted by way of, spitting on her brow earlier than strolling away. The lady recorded video of the incident and captured a photograph of him as he exited onto the platform.
Shortly after Rucker’s launch final week, Prepare dinner County Chief Choose Timothy Evans warned courthouse employees about him in an inner memo. The alert included Rucker’s mugshots and stated Rucker had a “repeated historical past of punching strangers,” noting that he was “colloquially recognized on social media as ‘The Loop Puncher.’” The memo additionally cautioned that Rucker had been seen in and close to courtroom services.
Final week, social media accounts circulated video displaying two males taunting and bodily attacking Rucker as a result of they acknowledged him as a “Loop Puncher.”
Younger males confronts viral Chicago “Loop Puncher” who stands at 6’7” & walks round knocking out folks in Chicago arrested over 20 instances, A mother of 11 Kathleen Miles was knocked out chilly, Northwestern College worker punched close to Union Station,: Elbowed a 15-year-old lady… pic.twitter.com/I0eiRWYEn6
— Rain Drops Media (@Raindropsmedia1) October 3, 2025
Rucker is also called Derrick Davis, Derrick Rucker, and Derek Davis
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