NEAR WEST SIDE — A man in a wheelchair slashed someone outside Malcolm X College Monday morning after the pair got into a heated argument about Newport cigarettes, police and witnesses said.
The incident occurred about 11 a.m. in the 1900 block of West Van Buren Street when a man cut another man in his upper arm with a pocket knife, according to Officer Daniel O'Brien, a police spokesman.
The man then fled in his wheelchair, witnesses said.
The victim was treated for a "superficial wound" on scene and no one has been arrested, O'Brien said.
Students who witnessed the fight said the two men were arguing about money and cigarettes. One man walked up to the other — who relies on a wheelchair — and demanded cash.
“Dude walked up on him. He was yelling, ‘You’re going to give me my money,'" said Maurice Brown, a 20-year-old student.
After "going off on him” for a few moments, the first man took a swing at the man in the wheelchair, witnesses said.
The wheelchair-bound man "ducked down," Brown said. "After he ducked down, he came up with a knife and stabbed in the arm — caught him real quick."
Security guards rushed outside, witnesses said, and the man with a knife fled westward in his wheelchair.
"He's in one of those remote-control wheelchairs, so he starts pushing the button," Brown said. "He was pressing that button like there’s no tomorrow."
Police confirmed that officers responded to a call of an alleged stabbing around 11 a.m. Monday.
No one was taken to a hospital, police said, and no one was in custody. According to preliminary information, cops believe two men taking GED classes at Malcolm X College were arguing about cigarettes.
