Derek Rucker, one of the so-called “Loop Puncher” attackers, will go to prison after pleading guilty to five felonies before Judge Aleksandra Gillespie on Wednesday. While the counts generally carry sentences ranging from two to five years, Gillespie imposed seven-year terms in each case, citing Rucker’s background. The sentences will run concurrently.
Rucker’s pleas bring a quick end to cases filed just over a month ago.
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In one case, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Rucker pleaded guilty to aggravated violence of a transit user after assaulting a woman at the Loyola Red Line station. Around 1:15 p.m. on September 30, Rucker approached a 23-year-old woman and made a statement that led her to back away, according to prosecutors. He then raised his right hand and punched her in the back of the head before sitting down on a bench.
Chicago police immediately apprehended him and transported him to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston for treatment of an unidentified condition. According to authorities, while under police guard at the hospital, Rucker assaulted an officer who was watching over him. He pleaded guilty to aggravated violence by a peace officer in connection with the charges.
Despite the claims, Rucker was released from custody while awaiting trial.
Shortly after his release, Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans sent an internal memo alerting courthouse staff about Rucker. The alert featured his mugshots and characterized him as having a “repeated history of punching strangers,” adding that he was “colloquially known on social media as ‘The Loop Puncher.'” The memo also mentioned Rucker’s presence in and around court facilities.
Rucker, who was on pretrial release, randomly punched a 44-year-old woman in the head in the 500 block of North State Street on October 9. Prosecutors claimed Rucker approached a woman crossing Ohio Street near State Street at 10:30 a.m. and hit her in the side of the head without warning. The 44-year-old woman collapsed and struck a metal support beam as Rucker, dressed in a bright orange sweater, continued walking north before turning around and passing her again, according to authorities.
Rucker is also guilty of two counts of burglary after entering CTA train cars with the intent to commit felonies. Those cases were allegations that he spat at CTA passengers on Red Line trains.
In one of those incidents, a 27-year-old woman had just boarded a southbound train at Addison when Rucker came from another car and threatened to spit on her. He then allegedly followed through, spitting on her forehead and going away. The woman videotaped the interaction and took a snapshot of him as he left the station.
A 40-year-old woman told police that a guy who matched Rucker’s description spat in her face and ear after making eye contact with her as the train neared the Wilson station on October 8. She recognized him from local news reports about downtown attacks and reported the event later that night.
Rucker was on probation at the time of each of the occurrences.
With good behavior, Rucker—also known as Derrick Davis, Derrick Rucker, and Derek Davis—will serve around three and a half years in prison, minus the 35 days he has already served.
