Man randomly stabbed sleeping CTA train passenger, recorded deadly attack in the Loop: prosecutors
Prosecutors say footage of the attack and ‘pictures of other sleeping passengers on the train’ were found on the suspect’s phone.
Demetrius Thurman allegedly killed Dominique Pollion in a random CTA Blue Line stabbing in the Chicago Loop near Clark and Lake, prosecutors said.
Demetrius Thurman, a 40-year-old Chicago man, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the case.
In court on Tuesday, prosecutors said Thurman randomly approached sleeping passenger on a CTA Blue Line train around 2:30 a.m. Saturday.
Thurman allegedly recorded himself on a cellphone, approaching the victim from behind, before, court documents state, he stabbed him “once in the chest near his heart and then a second time in his abdomen” with a large knife.
The victim, identified as 37-year-old Dominique J. Pollion, woke up and tried to back away before, prosecutors say, Thurman continued to stab him multiple times.
Prosecutors say Thurman then went to another train car and recorded security personnel trying to save the Pollion’s life before leaving the scene.
Pollion was taken to Northwestern Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Thurman was later identified in surveillance video and arrested the next day, allegedly wearing the same clothes he wore during the attack and carrying the phone that captured the crime.
Not only was footage of the deadly stabbing found on the phone, but prosecutors say, “as well as pictures of other sleeping passengers on the train.”
Thurman was ordered detained during Tuesday’s hearing.
In their request to keep Thurman in custody, prosecutors said he is “so dangerous to the entire community, no lesser conditions can mitigate that danger.”
To ride public transportation, nowadays, or some, means traveling with the utmost caution.
“Some places, I just feel really scared to get on and get off,” said CTA Rider Esmerly Medina. “They should not feel scared to get on the CTA, and people are scared to get on the CTA.”
Saturday’s deadly encounter is the latest violent attack on the CTA, which has come under fire recently by the Trump administration, with threats of withholding federal funding unless the transit agency comes up with a new safety plan.
“It just makes me feel vulnerable, because it could happen to anybody,” said CTA rider Francisco Rodriguez.
Tio Hardiman, with Violence Interrupters, has aimed for years to help the city by addressing ongoing violence on the CTA, that he says, also stems from lack of mental health resources.
“Remember, about a year ago, a guy shot four people to death on the Blue Line. They were complete strangers,” Hardiman said. “A lot of people need trauma support. You have a lot of hurt people on the trains… I just hope the CTA does not overlook Violence Interrupters as they put out a call for proposals.”
Thurman is due back in court next month.