Forest Park CTA shooting: 4 fatally shot in 'isolated random act' on Blue Line; suspect in custody
FOREST PARK, Ill. - Four people were shot and killed on a CTA Blue Line train Monday morning at the Forest Park station. Police said a suspect has been arrested.
The shooting happened around 5:30 a.m. on a westbound Blue Line train at the Forest Park station located at 711 Des Plaines Ave., according to Forest Park police.
Police found three victims who were pronounced dead at the scene. The fourth victim was taken to the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood where they were later pronounced dead, police said.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office has not yet released the names of the victims but has confirmed that they were three males and one female.
The suspect in the shooting fled the scene but was later identified by Chicago police on a CTA Pink Line train where they were taken into custody. Police said a gun was recovered during the arrest.
Police said surveillance video showed the gunmen walk through the first train car and shoot three of the victims that were not seated together. The first two were seated a few seats apart. The third victim was further down in the train car.
The fourth victim was in a different car.
Police believe the shooting occurred at or before the Harlem stop and CTA employees found the victims at the end of the line in Forest Park.
All four victims were asleep when they were shot.
Police called this an "isolated random act of violence," and said there was no immediate threat to the public.
Blue Line service was temporarily halted between Forest Park and Austin as police investigated. Shuttle buses were being provided in both directions between the two stations.
The CTA released the following statement in response to the shooting:
Although this was an isolated incident, this heinous and egregious act of violence should never have occurred, none the less on a public transit train.
As soon as this matter was reported, CTA immediately deployed resources to assist the Forest Park Police in their investigation into the matter, including review of all possible security camera footage, which proved to be vital in aiding local enforcement.
We commend both the Forest Park Police Department for their thorough and collaborative efforts to provide information to partner agencies; as well as the Chicago Police Department whose quick actions led to the apprehension of a suspect in this matter.
CTA will continue to work with local law enforcement as part of this ongoing investigation.
Additionally, CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr., also released a statement:
"This morning's incident on the Forest Park Branch of the Blue Line is the definition of a heinous crime and tragedy. We extend our condolences to those who lost their loved ones as a result of this senseless act of crime – our thoughts and prayers are with them.
The safety and security of our riders and employees is and remains our No. 1 priority. Although this matter remains under investigation, all current information points to the Monday morning incident along the Forest Park branch of the Blue Line as being an isolated incident.
The quick and collaborative efforts of both the Forest Park Police Department and Chicago Police Department are to be commended. Thr CTA will continue to support local law enforcements as this investigation continues."
Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins said his community, population 14,000, is the only Chicago suburb in Cook County where two major train lines end.
"It's a horrible tragedy that four people are dead on Labor Day weekend," Hoskins said. "Our police department and our fire department respond to this location probably more than any other location in our jurisdiction."
Forest Park police along with the West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force are investigating.
Anyone with information on the shooting was asked to contact Forest Park police at (708) 366-2425.