Four people were shot and killed Monday morning while sleeping on a Chicago Transit Authority train in a suburban Chicago village, police said.
Police responded to a report of a shooting at about 5:30 a.m. at a CTA Blue Line station in Forest Park, Cook County, west of Chicago, and found four men who had been shot. ABC Chicago reported..
Three victims were pronounced dead at the scene, and a fourth was rushed to Loyola University Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries, Deputy Police Chief Christopher Chin told The Washington Post.
The gunman fled the scene, but the gunman was later detained on a CTA Pink Line train in Chicago, according to ABC News.
Police say charges are still pending.
Police said the shootings occurred in two separate vehicles: three victims, who were not sitting next to each other, were found dead in one vehicle, and a fourth victim was found dead in a second vehicle.
“From the video, it appears all four victims were asleep when the shooting occurred. We do not believe they are all of them.” [connected]Chin told the Post:
Chin explained that Forest Park is the terminus of the CTA's 24-hour Blue Line, which runs from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to the village of about 14,000 people.
“For example, during the winter, it's not uncommon for people to be homeless, down on their luck, evicted from their apartments, or having arguments with their significant other,” Chin said. “So people spend the night on the train or just hang out there.”
Police said the victim's name will be released pending proper notification of her family.
Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins told ABC Chicago that the police department has seen a surge in calls for drug overdoses and other issues.
“Over the past two years, our response numbers have grown exponentially,” Hoskins said.
The mayor proposed beefing up security on trains.
According to the outlet, the CTA has installed a new “Zero Eyes” security system that monitors platforms at some stations 24/7, but Forest Park is not one of them.
“We're calling on leaders across the county, across the state, to invest more resources in supporting small communities like Forest Park,” Hoskins said.
The CTA condemned the “heinous and egregious act of violence” that “should never have happened” and said it would continue to cooperate with law enforcement as the investigation continues.
“Our condolences go out to those who lost loved ones as a result of this senseless criminal act, and our thoughts and prayers are with them,” authorities told The Post in a statement.
