Death of man electrocuted at Red Line station ruled a homicide

CHICAGO — The death of a man who was electrocuted by the third rail at a Chicago Transit Authority ‘L’ station earlier this week has been ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The 31-year-old man, who was not publicly identified, reportedly fell onto the tracks at the Red Line’s 79th Street station in the city’s West Chatham neighborhood at about 1 a.m. Tuesday. The injured man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead more than 22 hours later, at 11:22 p.m., officials said.

A Wednesday autopsy determined the cause of his death was electrocution by the third rail. Officials said the death was suspicious.

Police said their investigation continues.

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