FOREST PARK, Ill. — Four people were shot and killed early Monday morning on a CTA westbound Blue Line train to Forest Park, and a suspect is in custody, the Forest Park Police Department confirmed.
Authorities also said during a press conference later Monday morning that the shooting happened on two different train cars.
According to police, just before 5:30 a.m. Monday, authorities received a 911 call of three people shot on the train at the Forest Park CTA Blue Line station, 711 Des Plaines Avenue. Responding police cleared the station and located four shooting victims.
Police say three people were pronounced dead at the scene. The fourth was taken to an area hospital, where they were later pronounced dead. According to police, the offender had escaped from the scene.
However, working with security, Forest Park police were able to locate an offender through video surveillance. The Chicago Police Department then located a subject matching the description on a CTA Pink Line train, and the subject was taken into custody. Police say a firearm was recovered.
There is no word yet on any charges.
Police say the shooting appears to be an isolated incident, with no immediate threat to the public. Forest Park police detectives, along with the West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, have taken over the investigation.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact the Forest Park Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 708-366-2425 or via email at Detectives@ForestPark.net.
Authorities give update
Forest Park authorities, including Mayor Rory E. Hoskins, addressed the media during a press conference about the shooting late Monday morning.
“It’s a horrible tragedy that four people are dead on Labor Day weekend,” Hoskins said.
The mayor also noted that with two major train lines ending in the municipality of just 14,000 people, Forest Park leaders have appealed to state lawmakers for more resources.
“Our police department and our fire department respond to this location probably more than any other location in our jurisdiction,” Hoskins said. “Forest Park is the only community in Cook County … with two major train lines that end (there). So we provide police response, and fire and medical response.
“And so to the extent that our leaders in Springfield are considering any kind of CTA, mass-transit reorganization, we would ask them to consider investing additional resources — in terms of public safety, law enforcement personnel, what have you — to support a small community like Forest Park that has to respond to two major train lines ending (here).”
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Even though authorities say Monday morning’s shooting was isolated and there was no threat to the community, CTA rider Modensey Conerly told WGN the incident concerns her “very much.”
“It’s going to affect me,” Conerly said. “I know I’m not going to be commuting this far on the train. … I’m a senior with a disability, and I can’t see well.
“So, yeah, this affects me a lot.”
Service suspended
Meanwhile, Blue Line train service between Forest Park and Austin has been temporarily suspended due to the police investigation, CTA announced on its website just after 5:30 a.m. Monday.
A CTA spokesperson said later Monday morning the Forest Park Blue Line train will be suspended until police conclude their investigation into the fatal shooting. There is no ETA of when it will be running again.
CTA released the following statement:
“Although this was an isolated incident, this heinous and egregious act of violence should never have occurred, nonetheless 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.”
Trains are operating only between O’Hare International Airport and Austin as a result of the investigation, CTA says, and shuttle buses are available between Forest Park and Austin in both directions.
Additionally, CTA advises customers to consider other alternatives, such as nearby bus routes or using bus routes to other rail lines. These could include No. 7 Harrison, No. 50 Damen or the No. 49 Western bus.
CTA advises passengers to allow for extra travel time.