Two additional suspects have been charged with murder after a man was thrown from a moving Chicago Red Line train and killed, according to reports citing Chicago police and prosecutors.
New charges and custody status
WMAQ-TV, citing Chicago police, reported that Christian McBounds, 18, is charged with one count of first-degree murder, two additional murder counts, one count of aggravated battery of a transit employee, and one count of mob action. The Chicago Sun-Times reported a judge denied McBounds pretrial release at a detention hearing; he is due back in court Oct. 7.
WMAQ, citing police, also reported that Katlar Parchman, 19, has been charged with the victim’s murder. Cook County Jail records show Parchman was booked Saturday with no bond; her next court date is Oct. 7.
Earlier, a 15-year-old girl was arrested on Sept. 11 and charged with felony counts of first-degree murder, mob action, murder by other forcible felony, and aggravated battery to a transit employee, WBBM-TV reported. A judge ordered the girl detained until her next hearing in October, according to WBBM.
What prosecutors say happened on the train
The victim was identified as 29-year-old Kyle Bickham. WFLD-TV reported that Bickham was riding home from work on Sept. 7 when McBounds, Parchman, the 15-year-old girl, and another male boarded at the 95th Street stop. WFLD said surveillance cameras in the car recorded the incident and that multiple witnesses described what they saw.
According to prosecutors, as reported by WFLD, Bickham sat across from Parchman and spoke to her while the 15-year-old walked through the car. Bickham later approached another passenger, who told him to back off. After briefly stepping off at a stop and reboarding, Bickham argued with the 15-year-old, and both yelled while moving around the car. Prosecutors said Bickham spit on the 15-year-old, and the spit also struck Parchman, WFLD reported.
Prosecutors alleged one male grabbed Bickham’s arm while the 15-year-old punched him in the face; the group then surrounded Bickham, punching as they moved toward the back of the car, WFLD reported. One male began choking Bickham as others, including Parchman, continued punching and pulling at his head, according to prosecutors cited by WFLD.
Prosecutors said there was a brief pause near the sliding doors as Bickham reached for headphones on the floor. The two males forced him into a corner while Parchman and the 15-year-old closed in, WFLD reported. One male pulled the emergency lever and opened the sliding door while the train was moving, and WMAQ, citing prosecutors, reported that the 15-year-old grabbed Bickham by the head and shoulders and—assisted by a male—threw him from the train. Bickham was then struck by a train traveling in the opposite direction, according to those accounts.
WMAQ reported that witnesses allegedly heard Parchman say, “He shouldn’t have bothered us.”
Case posture
Police initially said there were three attackers, WFLD noted, while prosecutors now describe four people involved. Authorities had been seeking additional suspects prior to the latest charges, according to the reports. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
