Forest Park, IL – A suspect is in custody following a tragic shooting that left four people dead on a Labor Day morning train in Forest Park, a suburb of Chicago. The shooting occurred early Monday, and authorities have confirmed that the lone gunman has been apprehended.
The Forest Park Police Department received a 911 call at approximately 5:30 a.m., reporting that several individuals appeared to have been shot on a train at the Forest Park Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line Station, located about 10 miles west of downtown Chicago. Upon arrival, officers cleared the station and discovered four victims. Three were pronounced dead at the scene, while the fourth was transported to a local hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
Deputy Police Chief Christopher Chin stated that all four victims were likely sleeping on the train when they were shot. Three of the victims were found spread out across one train car, while the fourth victim was located in a separate car. Authorities believe the attack was random.
The suspect initially fled the scene, but was later identified through video surveillance. Chicago police located and apprehended the individual on a CTA Pink Line train. A firearm was recovered during the arrest, according to Forest Park police.
The identities of the victims and the suspect have not been released, and the motive for the shooting remains unclear. However, Deputy Chief Chin described the incident as isolated, and the suspect is expected to be formally charged by Tuesday evening.
Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it a “horrible tragedy” on Labor Day weekend. He noted that while the train station is a frequent site for police responses, mass shootings are extremely rare in the area.
This shooting adds to the grim tally of mass killings in the United States. According to a database maintained by USA TODAY, the Associated Press, and Northeastern University, over 3,000 people have been killed in 602 mass killings since 2006.