The town of Chicago on Monday launched surveillance footage of a brutal “Loop Puncher” assault — however solely after the Illinois Lawyer Common’s Workplace stepped in and pressured officers to adjust to CWBChicago’s Freedom of Info request.
The Workplace of Emergency Administration and Communications (OEMC) initially denied CWB’s public information request for the footage, citing a number of authorized exemptions. However after the lawyer basic’s Public Entry Bureau contacted the town concerning the denial, officers reversed course Monday afternoon.
The video reveals the August 19 assault of 56-year-old Kathleen Miles within the 200 block of West Washington Road. Within the footage, a person recognized as William Livingston, 32, is seen strolling up behind Miles and her pal as they stroll towards a practice station round 5:15 p.m.
A split-second after stepping between them, the person instantly punches Miles within the face. Her head whips backward, her physique stiffens, and he or she collapses sideways to the pavement. Miles’ daughter, Dionna Wolf, stated her mom was knocked unconscious and sustained fractures to her orbital bone and cheekbone, and suffered a extreme concussion that left her fighting on a regular basis duties.
Witnesses rushed to Miles’ assist because the attacker lingered close by. Chicago Fireplace Division medics arrive greater than 5 minutes after the assault, adopted minutes later by law enforcement officials who shortly take Livingston into custody.
Livingston is charged with three counts of aggravated battery. Choose Rivanda Doss Beal ordered him detained in Cook dinner County Jail, the place he stays.
Within the clip under, we’ve eliminated the punch, however you possibly can see the unedited model right here.
Livingston’s arrest got here to mild on September 1 via CWBChicago’s reporting, which helped carry wider consideration to so-called “Loop Puncher” incidents—unprovoked downtown assaults which have just lately drawn viral consideration on social media.
Information present Livingston has been accused of comparable assaults for years. In August 2023, he was arrested for elbowing a 27-year-old girl within the face alongside the Magnificent Mile. Though police took him into custody, prosecutors launched him, and the Illinois Division of Corrections didn’t instantly revoke his parole. He was briefly returned to jail ten days later, then launched once more in January 2024.
Police studies present he resumed attacking girls inside months. On August 14, 2024, officers close to Chicago Avenue and Wells Road noticed him punch a girl within the face after a bystander flagged him down. Prosecutors charged him solely with misdemeanor reckless conduct, and he was launched the following day.
Lower than two weeks later, he struck a 15-year-old woman within the face on North Michigan Avenue, in line with police. He pleaded responsible to 2 misdemeanors and was sentenced to 100 days by Choose Donald Panarese Jr.
Livingston’s document extends again to at the very least 2017. Police say he attacked a number of girls with out warning and assaulted two officers in separate incidents that yr. He later pleaded responsible to housebreaking and aggravated battery of a peace officer and was sentenced to probation.
In 2022, he was charged with punching at the very least 4 girls inside minutes within the South Loop, together with a DePaul College scholar, however he confronted minimal penalties.
Whereas random assaults in Chicago aren’t new, the discharge of the August 19 video underscores rising public scrutiny of how repeat offenders like Livingston repeatedly return to the streets.
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