Four individuals were killed in a shooting aboard a transit train Monday morning in a suburb west of Chicago, which authorities have described as an "isolated" incident.
The suspect fled the scene but was apprehended later, according to officials. The motive behind the shooting is not yet known.
The incident occurred on a westbound Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line train at Forest Park Station, approximately 10 miles west of Chicago, around 5:30 a.m. The victims, whose identities have not been released, were shot on the train. Three died at the station, while the fourth succumbed to injuries at a hospital. Details about the victims’ ages and genders have not been disclosed.
Deputy Chief Christopher Chin of the Forest Park Police Department confirmed that the shooting took place as the train was approaching Forest Park Station. The attack reportedly happened in two different train cars. The total number of passengers on the train at the time remains unclear.
Authorities used video surveillance to track down the shooter, who was found at a Pink Line station. A firearm was also recovered. Chief Chin emphasized that the shooting was an “isolated” event.
"This is obviously shocking,” he said. “Mass shootings like this are uncommon, particularly in our area.”
Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins described the shooting as an "outlier," noting that such incidents are rare in the community.
The Chicago Transit Authority highlighted the crucial role of security footage in locating the suspect, calling the incident a “heinous and egregious act of violence” that should not have occurred. The Blue Line train, which runs 24 hours a day, connects Forest Park with Chicago O'Hare International Airport, with stops throughout downtown Chicago.
Mayor Hoskins urged the transit authority to enhance public safety by investing more resources, emphasizing that the Forest Park Fire and Police Departments respond to the station frequently.
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