Local Character 'The Walking Man' Assaulted Downtown

By Stephen Gossett in News on May 25, 2016 7:23PM

One of Chicago's most recognizable characters, the hirsute downtown rambler affectionately known as The Walking Man or The Walking Dude, was beaten with a bat Tuesday morning at the 400 east block of Lower Wacker Drive, near Lake Shore Drive, according to the Chicago Police Department.

The attack began around 11 a.m. when the famously reticent Walking Man apparently said "Hi" to the suspect, a 41-year-old male, who then started punching him. A witness also reported seeing the suspect attempt to throw the Walking Man over a railing, according to a Tribune report. The man, whose name has not been released, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious condition and reportedly suffered severe cuts cuts around the eyes. His condition Wednesday has improved to fair, and a psychiatric evaluation on the attacker is pending.

The Walking Man thus far has refused to press charges.

Chicago tends to treat its most colorful oddball denizens with open-hearted fondness, making folk heroes of would-be-neglected figures such as Vincent P. Falk, Sharkula and Wesley Willis. Walking Man is no different, having inspired Facebook fan pages, a locally viral YouTube "documentary" trailer and wistful op-eds with his seemingly endless stroll and shaggy-dapper appearance.

If you need us, we'll be over in the corner in the fetal position, existentially despairing.