Alleged Chicago machete attack — Why is this news?

Does this look like convincing photo evidence of a machete attack? (source: imgur)

Today I read three reports and two posts linking to those reports about a man who was allegedly attacked on his bike March 22nd by a machete-wielding teenager and his buddy who was filming.

The story’s origin is a Reddit post by a man originally identified on Reddit as “condirice” who later deleted his name, and whose details leave a lot to be desired:

On Saturday (March 22, 2014) at 3am I was riding my bike home in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. I saw two teenagers come out of the alley and it was immediately apparent they were coming for me. The next thing I realized was that one of the kids had a machete. The machete wielder ran directly at me and hit the back tire of my bike with the knife. It stopped my bike on impact – shattering my fender and slicing through both tube and tire. The next thing I remember was being punched directly in the face but I didn’t go down. That’s when I realized I was being filmed and the camera-kid was laughing. I assumed I would be robbed of everything I had on me but instead the machete wielder hit my bike again in the rear wheel and shouted at me to “get the f#$% out of here”. Somewhat relieved I left as fast as I could (on a broken down bike, mind you). In my departure the machete wielder hit my bike two or three more times. I got home 10 minutes later and called the police. They were unable to find the perpetrators but I filed a report.

People with Passion: Mick Dumke

A People with Passion series

Chicago journalism

August 15, 2011: Mick Dumke

Mick Dumke, investigative reporter. (Photo by Sam Adams)

If you have lived in Chicago for more than six months, it’s possible you don’t know Mick Dumke’s name, but you probably know his work. Along with fellow reporter Ben Joravsky, Dumke was instrumental in guiding Chicago into awareness of our shady tax increment financing program, better known as the TIF fund, a program that in theory diverts tax money to blighted communities, but in practice diverts them anywhere the Mayor sees fit. You may have also been bothered by the city’s agreement to lease our parking meters to a group led by Morgan Stanley for the next 75 years. Mick covered that too.

Here in this third installation of Jack M Silverstein’s Chicago journalism People with Passion series, the man who Mayor Daley once threatened with a rifle discusses his introduction to investigative reporting, his love for the craft, and why the Chicago dailies still matter to him.

The Reader on torture, police, CPS, teachers unions, gun violence, gun laws, and Mayor Daley

 

The Reader's cover design for July 8, 2010

Even for the usual terrific reporting from the Reader, this recent issue (Jul. 8, 2010) produced three stories that floored me. They are important works on their own; taken together, they are a remarkable portrait of our city, how it “works,” and why it doesn’t.