Man stabbed in throat after refusing to hand over spare change on Chicago’s Gold Coast

An Illinois man was stabbed after he rebuffed his alleged attacker’s demands to hand over spare change, authorities said.

According to the Chicago Police Department, Alaxstair Reed, 39, approached the man on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago around 4:45 p.m. March 28. 

Reed allegedly demanded the man’s personal property but was refused. He then asked for change but was again denied. 

The 52-year-old man tried to walk away, so Reed allegedly pulled out a sharp object and stabbed him in the throat, police said, according to WGN-TV. 

An officer stopped the wound from bleeding by using a quick-clot kit, the television station reported.

The stabbing victim, who was with his 15-year-old son at the time of the alleged Gold Coast attack, was rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for surgery and is in serious condition. 

Reed was found 10 minutes and a few blocks away from the crime scene and taken into custody.

He faces one count each of felony first-degree attempted murder and felony aggravated battery/great bodily harm.