Man Charged With Firing Assault Rifle At Blue Line Train
Updated 10/10/14 - 12:55 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 25-year-old man has been charged with firing an assault rifle at a CTA train inside a subway station on Thursday.
Lorenzo Jones, of the 7500 block of South Luella Avenue, has been charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and one count each of aggravated assault with a firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm. His bond was set at $2 million Friday afternoon, when he appeared at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
Police said Jones fired at least five shots at a northbound Blue Line train around 11:20 a.m. Thursday inside the LaSalle subway station. No one was injured in the shooting, although a CTA employee who was at the station was transported to the hospital for stress related to the incident.
Jones allegedly fled the station, but didn't get far. He was arrested just outside the subway exit. Police said he still had the gun, and was carrying more than 60 rounds of ammunition when he was taken into custody.
Police said the assault rifle he used had been reported stolen in Indiana.
Will Gerlach, a photographer and a student at Columbia College, said when he heard a commotion while in his dorm room high above Polk and State streets, he grabbed his camera.
"It seemed a lot scarier than it ended up being, because no one was actually hurt. Shots were fired, but no one was injured. That's fantastic, but when a man was being taken down by officers with assault rifles, yeah, I was worried. It was a little bit crazy. Like, what has happened that they would have that kind of power down here?" Gerlach said.
John Langston said he was riding the targeted train when Jones allegedly opened fire.
"It was shocking," he said. "It was real gunshots."
Dari Leyba also was riding the Blue Line at the time. She was visiting Chicago for the first time.
"I asked the shuttle driver that brought us to the train, the Blue Line train station, if the subways were safe, and he said, 'Yes, of course they are,'" she said with a laugh. "And now this. But I'm sure they must be safe."
Jones has a lengthy criminal record, including guilty pleas to theft, trespassing, unlawful use of a weapon, drug possession, and reckless conduct. He also has been arrested for assault and domestic battery, though charges were dropped in those cases.
He was due back in court on Oct. 16.
