No charges in fatal beating of 56-year-old man at Clark/Lake CTA stop in the Loop

CHICAGO (WGN) — A man taken into custody by Chicago police following an altercation that turned deadly in the city’s Loop on the July 4 weekend has been released without charges, a spokesperson with the department confirmed with WGN News on Wednesday night.

The incident occurred around 10:25 p.m. Saturday, June 5, at the Clark/Lake CTA stop in the Loop.

According to police, a 56-year-old male was involved in a physical altercation with an unknown male offender on the CTA platform in the 100 block of West Lake Street. While Chicago police did not disclose what led to the altercation, the department said that the 56-year-old male sustained trauma to his head.

Chicago fire paramedics later discovered the unresponsive individual and rushed him to Northwestern Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Cook County coroners identified the 56-year-old male as Robert Harper. The identity of the man taken into CPD’s custody and later released remains unknown.

In a statement provided to WGN News on Sunday, CTA spokespeople said the agency was “working in close coordination with CPD to support their investigation, including reviewing and providing any relevant security camera footage.”

CPD did not offer details on why the male taken into custody was later released.