Attack happened in daylight near the 1400 block of North Lawndale Avenue; detectives are seeking tips tied to case number JK112843.
CHICAGO, IL — Chicago police say a man pushed a woman off a sidewalk and into an alley in Humboldt Park on Monday afternoon, where he sexually assaulted her before running away on foot. The attack happened around 4:25–4:30 p.m. near the 1400 block of North Lawndale Avenue.
Police issued a community alert late Tuesday and asked for help identifying the attacker. Detectives in the city’s Area Five bureau are reviewing video and canvassing the block where the assault occurred. The case has drawn attention because the attack happened in daylight, along a residential stretch of Lawndale, and the suspect remained at large as of Friday. Officials released a physical description and clothing details to narrow the search and said additional patrols were planned while leads are checked.
According to police, the man approached the victim on the sidewalk shortly before 4:30 p.m., “forced the woman into a nearby alley and sexually assaulted her,” then fled southbound through the alley. The location listed in the alert places the crime near the 1400 block of North Lawndale Avenue in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on the city’s West Side. The incident time noted by police was 4:25 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Officers responding to the scene took an initial report and began a door-to-door canvas for cameras and witnesses. No arrest had been announced by week’s end.
Investigators described the suspect as a Black man between 25 and 35 years old, roughly 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-10 and 160 to 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a gray sweater, dark-colored pants that may have been ripped jeans, black shoes and a dark-colored beanie. Detectives assigned the reference number JK112843 to the case. Police did not release the victim’s age or condition and did not say whether the attacker displayed a weapon. It was also not immediately known whether the assault was connected to any other recent incidents in the area.
Humboldt Park includes blocks of two-flats, garages and alleys that run behind residences, with afternoon foot and vehicle traffic along North and Armitage avenues nearby. The reported address sits just off those corridors in the 25th Police District. In recent months, police have issued periodic alerts on West Side assaults and robberies that prompted well-attended beat meetings and community discussions. Monday’s case drew particular notice because of the hour and location, which residents described as typically active with after-school and late-afternoon activity.
Area Five detectives said they are collecting private security footage from doorbell and garage cameras and comparing it with city pod cameras from the surrounding blocks. Patrol officers were directed to conduct special attention checks in the immediate area while the search continues. If detectives identify a suspect, the next steps would include a photo array or lineup, evidence collection and a review by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office for potential charges. Police said updates would be issued if arrests are made or if additional public safety alerts are warranted.
Neighbors who passed through Lawndale later in the week described a visibly stepped-up police presence and squad cars rolling through the alleys at intervals. Several residents said they shared footage from their garages and porches with officers as part of the canvas. A woman walking her dog on the block said the timing of the attack “caught people off guard,” noting that many families are typically returning home around that hour. Others said they hoped the clothing description and direction of flight would help narrow the search.
As of Friday morning, police said the suspect had not been found and the investigation remained active. Detectives are continuing video pulls and witness follow-ups through the weekend, with the next internal case review expected early next week. The case number is JK112843.
Author note: Last updated January 16, 2026.