MAYWOOD, Ill. — The suspect in a mass killing on a Chicago-area transit train systematically shot three sleeping passengers at close range before before moving to a second train car and firing on a man who tried to shield himself, prosecutors said Wednesday.
New details about the Labor Day shooting that has rattled commuters in the Chicago area emerged during an initial court appearance where a judge ruled that Rhanni S. Davis, 30, would remain in custody until trial. Davis is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the killings aboard an L system Blue Line train that was approaching suburban Forest Park.
Prosecutors said Davis wore a mask as he moved from one victim to the next, but they did not offer a motive for the shooting.
One person, 64-year-old Margaret Miller, was shot in the back of the head, prosecutors said. Another victim — 60-year-old Adrian Collins — ''raised his hand in a defensive posture'' in trying to shield himself from the gunfire, Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Eugene Wood said in court. Collins, who was in the second train car, later died at an hospital.
Another victim was identified as Simeon Bihesi, 28, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. The name of a 52-year-old man who was killed has not been released because law enforcement has not been able to find relatives.
''The facts alleged by the state are absolutely horrific and appalling,'' said Cook County Circuit Judge Elizabeth Ciaccia-Lezza.
She said evidence outlined in the suburban courtroom, including video footage, shell casings and tests showing gun residue on the suspect's hands, showed Davis was a ''real and present threat'' to the public.
Davis, who wore a tan jail jumpsuit with tissues stuffed in the pocket, only said one word during the brief hearing, telling the judge ''RAH-nee'' when asked how to pronounce Rhanni.
