Four Sleeping Passengers Executed on Chicago Train on Labor Day Possibly Homeless

Authorities investigate investigate social status of shooting on CTA Blue Line, in effort to better understand conditions of homeless population in Chicago

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CHICAGO - Four people who were believed to be sleeping on a Chicago subway train were fatally shot early Monday morning.

“The victims, they were all passengers on the train early this morning. The train was in motion on the way into Forest Park.” said Chris Chin, Forest Park Deputy Chief.

Investigators and the CTA are cooperating to examine surveillance footage of the incident. Police say that they have determined that the sleeping victims were located in two different cars with three in one car and one in a different car. As far as police can tell they were unrelated to each other.

A suspect was quickly identified and arrested, according to police, about an hour and a half after the mass shooting, however, they have yet to name the individual. Police said that surveillance video was critical in helping to identify the suspect.

“The CTA has great cameras" Chin said. “I was able to watch some of the videos and it seems like they were able to track, locate and then identify or at least be able to pinpoint … OK, this is who Forest Park is looking for. And Chicago was able to nab him and we were able to swoop in and take him into custody.”

According to authorities, the victims may have been homeless.

“We don’t know for sure what (the victims’) social status is," Chin said. “It’s not uncommon . . . to have people who are either homeless or down on their luck or just, you know, maybe they get kicked out of their apartment or they got into an argument with their significant other. So people just either spend the night on the train or just hang out there.”

The CTA has urged people to remember that homelessness is not a crime. Over the past two years, the CTA has put $2 million yearly into a fund used for organizations who partner with them to help people using the trains for shelter to find safer, more appropriate options. Members of these organizations patrol the trains and when they find an individual who appears to be sheltering there, they work with them to get on the list for housing.

Since then, many homeless people sheltering on Chicago trains have been signed up for the housing referal system and many are now living in temporary or long-term housing.

As of now there is no indication that the perceived social status of the victims was related to the shooting. Police have stated that based on surveillance footage it doesn't seem that the shooter knew any of the victims, nor did the shooter attempt to rob them. They believe the attack to be completely random. Authorities continue to investigate the possible motives for the mass shooting.

CTA released a statement Monday which said, "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."

The victims’ names have not yet been released as families are still being notified.

Anyon who may have information on the shooting should contact Forest Park police at 708-366-2425 or detectives@forestpark.net.