Union leaders are pressing for stronger employee protections after janitor Julian Mobley was fatally stabbed at a Green Line station.
CHICAGO — The fatal stabbing of CTA janitor Julian Mobley at the Damen/Lake Green Line station has renewed demands from transit workers for stronger security, with union leaders saying employees face unacceptable risks while serving riders across Chicago.
Mobley, 41, died Thursday after he was stabbed during a confrontation inside the station’s mezzanine area, according to Chicago police. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308, which represented Mobley, said he had worked for the CTA since 2018 and was trying to help a coworker when the violence unfolded. No arrest had been announced in the latest reports.
Union officials said the incident began after a rider sprayed another CTA employee with mace during a fare dispute. Mobley intervened, according to the union, before the confrontation turned physical and he was stabbed. Police said an unknown man approached Mobley shortly before 3 p.m., an argument followed and the encounter escalated. Investigators have not publicly released a complete account reconciling every detail of the events before the stabbing.
Pennie McCoach, president of Local 308, said the killing reflected broader safety problems facing transit workers and called for immediate improvements. The union is seeking stronger enforcement, additional security, better training and greater investment in measures intended to protect CTA employees while they work.
The CTA said it was deeply saddened by Mobley’s death and expressed condolences to his family, friends and coworkers. The agency said it continues to work with public safety partners to strengthen protections for employees and is cooperating with the police investigation, including by providing available surveillance video to detectives.
Mobley’s death comes only months after another union member was killed while working for the transit system. Rail switch worker Thomas Barlow was fatally shot in June during an attempted carjacking near the 95th Street Red Line station. Local 308 officials said Mobley was the second member killed on CTA property in roughly three months, adding urgency to their demands.
Beyond the safety debate, coworkers described Mobley as a gentle and caring colleague. Union officials said he was married and was the father of two children. He had spent about eight years working for the transit agency before his death.
The stabbing also disrupted Green Line operations Thursday afternoon. Trains temporarily bypassed Damen/Lake because of police activity, and the CTA directed riders to nearby bus routes and substitute service. Normal service at the station was restored later in the evening.
Police said Mobley was found unresponsive after the stabbing and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The attacker fled west from the station, authorities said. Area Three detectives were investigating, and no suspect had been publicly identified or reported in custody in the latest available information.
The investigation now proceeds alongside a broader dispute over how the CTA and city should protect transit employees. The union has called for changes without delay, while the CTA says it is working with law enforcement and public safety partners to improve protections across the system.
Author note: Last updated October 9, 2026.