A 15-year-old girl has been charged with murder after a man was allegedly shoved from a moving train before being struck and killed by another service.
Kyle Bickham, 29, was heading home after working an overnight shift at an Amazon warehouse when he became involved in an altercation with three people.
Police allege the group used force to push Kyle from the moving train.
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He plunged onto the tracks and struck the electrified third rail before being hit by another train.
Kyle was pronounced dead at the scene and his death has since been ruled a homicide, as reported by Need To Know.
Police have now arrested a 15-year-old girl who they allege was one of the three people involved.
She has been charged with first-degree murder, mob action, two counts of murder during another forcible felony and aggravated battery of a transit employee.
The teenager, who cannot be named because of her age, appeared in juvenile court on Saturday (12 Sep).
A judge found probable cause on all counts and ordered her to remain in custody.
Police said no other arrests have yet been made.
Kyle’s devastated family said he had been travelling home to Lansing after finishing work at an Amazon warehouse in Cicero, Illinois.
He had reportedly moved into a new apartment just days before his death and was working hard to build a future for himself.
His dad, Christopher Bickham Sr, said: “It’s the most hurtful thing that has ever happened.”
Mum Latanya Bickham said: “He was just trying to make an honest day’s living, and this is what happened.”
Kyle was the youngest boy of four siblings and was remembered by loved ones as a caring and hardworking man who loved making people laugh.
His dad said: “He loved writing poetry. He loved us.
“He loved both of his nieces, his brothers, his sister; he just was an all-around caring guy.”
Kyle’s grandmother Bertha Ford also described him as “so kind”.
His family said they did not know what could have sparked the altercation and, as far as they were aware, Kyle had no connection to those involved.
The horror unfolded aboard a Chicago Transit Authority Red Line train near the 69th Street station in Chicago at around 2.30pm on Monday (7 Sep).
Police initially reported that Kyle had jumped from the moving train.
But investigators later said they had established that three people allegedly pushed him out during an altercation.
Kyle landed on the electrified third rail and was incapacitated before another train struck him.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that he died from multiple injuries and ruled his death a homicide.
The teenage suspect was arrested on Friday (11 Sep), four days after Kyle’s death.
His family have now urged witnesses to come forward and called for the other two people police say were involved to turn themselves in.
Latanya said: “There are a lot of questions that we have and we still have no answers.
“We need help, we need direction, and we need these people to turn themselves in.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
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