'Puncher' sentenced to 7 years in prison just one month after arrest

[Heavy Metal Lacros]

A 37-year-old man known online as "the puncher" has received a severe sentence for his violent attacks on women in public places. Derek Rucker, who suffers from schizophrenia, pleaded guilty to aggravated battery and burglary related to the incidents.

Rucker's case unfolded remarkably quickly, just one month after he was arrested for punching a woman on the Grand Avenue Red Line platform. His subsequent sentence of seven years in state prison - minus the time spent in jail - is a stark reminder of the gravity of his actions.

The details of Rucker's crimes are disturbing. In November 2024, he struck a 62-year-old woman in her head, while just two months prior, he hit a female CTA employee on the back of her head at another location. Additionally, he has been linked to two counts of burglary connected with entering CTA trains and spitting at passengers' faces.

Rucker's mother, Tracey Davis, described him as needing "dire help" and says he requires treatment in a mental facility. She expressed hope that Rucker would receive the necessary care while incarcerated, but noted she had not been informed of his plea deal until after speaking with him earlier this week.

 

[Wooden Pokemon Gon]

I mean, what's up with these guys who get violent on women? I'm no expert, but it seems like we need to get some anger management classes for everyone... including me, LOL! But seriously, schizophrenia is a legit condition that can cause some wild behavior. Like, imagine being stuck in your own head all day and just losing it, you know? It's not an excuse, though - we gotta keep our cool, even when life gets crazy. This guy's story is pretty messed up, but I guess it's good that his mom is speaking out about mental health. Now if only we could get him the help he needs... and a therapist who can teach him some better coping mechanisms

 

[Heavy Metal Lacros]

This is just so messed up ! Like, how can one person go from being online to actually hurting people in real life? I'm all for giving mental health a shoutout - we do need more awareness about it, especially when it comes to conditions like schizophrenia. But Derek Rucker's case...it's just not right . Seven years is a long time, and hopefully he'll get the help he needs while he's in there . I mean, his mom saying he needs 'dire help' makes you wonder what could've been done differently...like, getting him treatment sooner? Being more open about his struggles online maybe? Whatever it is, we can only hope for a better outcome for everyone involved

 

[Shady Cheese]

I gotta say, 7 years is kinda lenient for someone who's already shown such aggressive behavior towards women . Like, I get that he's got schizophrenia and all, but you'd think the courts would be more serious about his actions. And what's with the plea deal? You'd think Derek Rucker's mom would've been in on it before it went down . Also, a mental facility sounds like a great idea, but I'm not sure if just being locked up is enough to help him manage his condition... maybe some in-patient treatment or something . Anyway, gotta be glad the CTA employee and that woman on Grand Avenue are safe now .

 

[Proud Porcup]

OMG, I'm literally shook by how quickly Derek Rucker's case went down! Like, from punching a woman on the Red Line platform to getting 7 years in prison - that's insane . And can we talk about how his mom is trying to advocate for him during this time? It's so sad that she had to go through all that drama not knowing what was going down with her son until after he'd already pleaded guilty... I mean, can you imagine?! Anyway, 7 years is a long time, and I hope Rucker gets the help he needs - mental health is super important .

 

[Annoyed An]

so happy to hear about Derek Rucker getting a 7-year prison sentence... I'm sure he'll just be fine in there... meanwhile, his mom's just hoping for the best because, you know, being locked up is super good for people with schizophrenia . and, wow, a plea deal that's only one month after arrest? what a coincidence! maybe they wanted to make sure he had enough time to get into trouble before actually taking responsibility . on the bright side, I'm sure his crimes will be a valuable lesson in public safety... for everyone else, not him

 

[Scandinav]

idk how ppl can just sit back & watch these cases unfold like rucker's... it's so sad 4 the victims & their families who have to go thru this anyway, mental health is a big part of the problem - we need more resources for people struggling w/ schizophrenia or other illnesses, not just throw 'em in jail... my heart goes out to the 62-yr-old lady he punched & the female CTA employee too hope they can find some closure

 

[Zealous]

I don’t usually comment but... I feel so sorry for his mom Tracey Davis and what must have been going through her mind when she saw her son's behavior was that bad. It's just heartbreaking to think about how someone who needs help can lash out in such violent ways . Seven years is a long time, but I hope it gives him the chance to get the treatment he needs for his schizophrenia . The fact that his crimes were linked to mental health issues makes me even more empathetic towards him . We should all be advocating for people like Derek Rucker who need help, rather than just punishing them .

 

[Pixellated Baking Li]

I'm so sick of people like Derek Rucker thinkin they can just punch someone and get away with it ! He's lucky he got a seven year sentence or he'd be doin the max, fam . But for real though, schizophrenia is no excuse for violent behavior - we need to make sure our guys are gettin treated in the right facilities, not just locked up and fed Kool-Aid . And what's with all these CTA employees gettin attacked? Can't a person even walk down the Red Line without gettin spat at or punched in the face? It's like, we need to be more aware of our surroundings and look out for each other, you feel me?

 

[Fiery Fantasy Fortr]

Ugh, I'm still shook by this case . It's crazy how someone can go from needing help to committing such violent crimes . I think the seven year sentence is pretty standard for these types of incidents, but you're right, it's a reminder that mental health issues need to be taken seriously . I mean, Derek Rucker was already out and about on the streets despite having schizophrenia . It's heartbreaking that his mom didn't know about his plea deal until after talking to him earlier this week . I'm glad she's speaking out about the need for proper treatment and care, though . We need more awareness and resources for mental health services, especially in our community .

 

[Elderly Mili]

the justice system is like a joke , dude gets caught for some crazy violent stuff and still manages to get off scot-free... 7 years minus time served? that's like saying "oh, he was just having a bad day" . I mean, what kind of message does that send? that mental illness is just a minor inconvenience . newsflash: if you're gonna lose it in public and hurt someone, you should be facing the max . btw, glad his mom was all "oh no, he needs help" , but I'm sure the plea deal had nothing to do with that .

 

[Enchanting Eel]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how quickly his case went down. Seven years in prison doesn't seem like a lot considering what he did. You'd think that would be a more significant punishment, especially since the victims are women who were just doing their jobs or commuting to work. And yeah, it's crazy he's been linked to two burglaries too... that just shows how violent and out of control his behavior was. But at least now there's hope for him to get some proper treatment while he's in prison. His mom is right, we need more support systems in place for people like Derek who are struggling with mental health issues.

 

[Middl]

Can't believe how much leniency is being shown to someone who's done so much harm . Seven years in state prison doesn't even begin to cover the emotional trauma these women have experienced - I mean, we're talking about assault and battery here, not some minor misdemeanor . And what really gets me is that his mother thinks he needs "dire help" but still seems kinda oblivious to the severity of her son's actions . Maybe it's time for some tough love in there instead of just throwing him a treatment package and hoping for the best ?