Kyle Bickham was reportedly heading home from work when police say he was pushed from a moving train during an altercation.
A teenage girl is facing first-degree murder and other charges after Chicago police say a 29-year-old man was pushed from a moving CTA Red Line train during an altercation.
The teen was charged in connection with the death of Kyle T. Bickham, a 29-year-old Chicago-area man who police say was pushed from a moving Chicago Transit Authority Red Line train earlier this week.
Police arrested the girl on Friday, four days after Bickham was killed near the CTA's 69th Street station on the city's South Side. She is facing felony charges that include first-degree murder, murder during the commission of a forcible felony, mob action, and aggravated battery to a transit passenger, according to ABC Chicago.
Police have said the teenager was one of three people allegedly involved in the altercation that ended with Bickham being forced from the train. Authorities have not publicly identified the other two people involved or announced whether they have been charged.
The incident happened around 2:30 p.m. on Monday near the 69th Street station. Investigators initially said a man had jumped from a moving Red Line train and landed on the tracks. Police later determined that Bickham had been pushed during an altercation involving three people.
After falling from the train, Bickham landed on the electrified third rail and was subsequently struck by another train, according to police. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office identified him as Bickham and ruled his death a homicide.
Bickham's family said he had been heading home to Lansing after working an overnight shift at an Amazon warehouse in Cicero. His loved ones described him as hardworking, caring, and devoted to his family.
His parents told local media that Bickham was focused on building a life for himself and had recently moved into a new apartment. His father, Christopher Bickham Sr., said the family was devastated by the loss, while his mother, Latanya Bickham, said her son was simply trying to make an honest living when he was killed.
Family members also remembered Bickham for his personality and the joy he brought to people around him. His father said he had a way of changing the mood in a room, while relatives recalled his love of writing poetry, spending time with his nieces and cheering for the Chicago Bulls.
The case also comes after an initially different account of what happened aboard the train. The first police reports described the death as a person jumping from a moving train. As detectives continued investigating, police said they determined that three people had pushed Bickham from the train during an altercation.
The teenager's arrest marks the first publicly announced charges in the case. Because she is 15, authorities have not released her name or additional identifying information. Her case is expected to proceed through the juvenile justice system.
She was scheduled to appear in court on Saturday.
Chicago police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Bickham's death and the identities and potential involvement of the other people authorities say were part of the altercation.
For Bickham's family, the investigation comes as they continue to mourn a son, brother, grandson and friend whose trip home from work ended in tragedy.
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