CHICAGO — A deadly shooting aboard a CTA train in the Loop early Tuesday morning left one man dead and another wounded, Chicago police reported.
The incident occurred around 1:22 a.m. in the 100 block of North Wells Street. Authorities said the victims, a 44-year-old man identified by family as Ray Ray and a 23-year-old man, became involved in a verbal altercation with a male suspect armed with a knife. The situation escalated physically, during which one of the victims produced a firearm. The suspect then gained control of the gun and fired, striking both men.
Ray Ray was shot in the abdomen and transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The 23-year-old man sustained a wrist injury and was hospitalized in fair condition.
The suspect fled the scene and remains at large. Chicago Police Area Three detectives are leading the investigation.
The shooting caused disruptions to CTA train service in the Loop, which resumed around 5:30 a.m. This incident comes amid growing scrutiny of CTA safety measures. Last week, the Federal Transit Administration rejected the CTA’s safety plan shortly after its implementation. The plan included additional police presence, private security, K-9 patrols, and a voluntary program allowing officers to patrol the CTA on days off. The FTA urged the CTA to adopt more aggressive crime reduction measures to better protect riders.
In response to recent violence on the transit system, Violence Interrupters deployed 25 outreach workers on the Red Line Tuesday to help keep commuters safe. Tio Hardiman, a spokesperson for the organization, said, “You have everyday people here that board the trains that go to work every day, and then somebody hits them in the head, and now they are in the hospital. They lost their money. They might not be able to go to work and pay their rent. We are tired of that kind of stuff.”
Authorities continue to investigate and are urging anyone with information about the suspect to come forward.
