A 24-year-old man was arraigned on Oct. 20 in Cook County Court in Chicago for attacking an elderly man with his fists and an empty liquor bottle.
Karon Cannon beat the elderly victim so severely that the man could not speak for two months.
The attack occurred on Aug. 7. Not until Oct. 12 was the victim able to form words clearly enough to tell police about the attack.
The victim was riding the L train on the evening of Monday, Aug. 7, seated a few seats away from the inebriated Cannon.
Cannon claims he felt something touch his leg twice. He looked up and saw an elderly man smiling at him. Cannon then attacked the elderly man, punching him at least five times and then striking him repeatedly in the head and face with an empty liquor bottle.
Cannon told police he knew the victim was unarmed but kept beating him “because he was angry.”
After beating the elderly man into unconsciousness, Cannon stole $5 from the man’s wallet and left the train.
The attack happened near the Sheridan train station.
Police found the victim unconscious on the sidewalk on North Sheridan Road outside the Sheridan train station. He was transported to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was treated for head injuries. He currently resides in a rehab facility.
The victim’s head injuries were so severe he was not able to speak. Police had no idea what had happened to him, and no way to investigate.
When the victim finally regained his ability to speak, he described the attack well enough that police could go back through surveillance video and find photos of Cannon leaving the train.
Using the victim’s description and video surveillance footage, police were able to track down and arrest Cannon. He was charged with armed robbery and aggravated battery.
Cannon was remanded after being assessed $100,00 bail by Cook County Judge Michael Clancy, who said the size of the bail reflected the viciousness of the assault and the age of the victim.
Cannon lives in Chicago with his pregnant girlfriend and his 2-year-old daughter. He works at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and attends Malcolm X college part time.
Prosecutors said Cannon has prior convictions for attempted aggravated robbery, domestic battery, and resisting police.
Police records show that Cannon was also arrested on suspicion of domestic battery on Oct. 14.
Friends Read Free