A tragic incident unfolded on a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train in the suburban village of Forest Park, west of Chicago, on Monday morning. Four individuals were fatally shot while they were sleeping on the train, according to local law enforcement. The police were alerted to the incident at the CTA Blue Line Station around 5:30 a.m., where they discovered four men with gunshot wounds.
Three of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while the fourth was transported to Loyola University Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries, as per Deputy Chief Christopher Chin. The assailant had fled the scene, but a suspect, armed with a firearm, was later apprehended on a CTA Pink Line train in Chicago.
The charges against the suspect are yet to be filed, according to the police. The shooting took place in two separate train cars. Three victims were found in one car, while the fourth was discovered in another. Deputy Chief Chin stated that the victims, who were not together, were asleep when the shooting occurred, and there is no evidence to suggest they were connected.
Forest Park, home to approximately 14,000 residents, is the terminus of the CTA’s 24-hour-service Blue Line, which runs from Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Chin noted that it’s not unusual for individuals who are homeless or facing personal difficulties to spend the night on the train, especially during the colder months.
The identities of the victims will be disclosed once their families have been appropriately notified, as per police protocol. Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins expressed concern over the increasing number of police calls to the station for issues such as drug overdoses in recent years.
Mayor Hoskins suggested the need for additional security on trains. The CTA has implemented a new “zero eyes” security system, providing round-the-clock surveillance at select stations. However, Forest Park is not among these stations. The mayor urged county and state leaders to invest more resources to support small communities like Forest Park.
The CTA issued a statement condemning the “heinous and egregious act of violence,” expressing that such incidents should never occur. The agency extended its condolences to the victims’ families and pledged to continue cooperating with law enforcement in the ongoing investigation.