Edward Charleston, a 24-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on February 17, 2020, in Chicago, Illinois. The incident occurred in a pedestrian tunnel connecting the Red and Blue lines at the Jackson station in the Loop. Charleston was shot nine times in what was described as an "execution-style" shooting. The attack happened around 2 a.m. and was captured on CTA surveillance cameras.
Charleston had been riding the same Red Line train as the suspect, Torrez Cathery, a 23-year-old man from Park Manor. The two men exited the train at Jackson, where Charleston followed Cathery into the tunnel to discuss a prior incident involving Cathery threatening Charleston with a knife and pushing his twin 4-month-old babies.
In the tunnel, Cathery turned around and opened fire, striking Charleston and two other individuals. A 19-year-old woman was shot in the back but survived, while another man was critically injured with seven gunshot wounds and remains on life support. Charleston managed to run from the tunnel but later succumbed to his injuries. Cathery fled the scene but was arrested two days later in Oak Park after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Cathery was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Cathery had fired a total of 13 shots, with some of the shots being fired while standing over the other wounded man. The shooting was described as "execution-style" by the interim police superintendent, Charlie Beck. Cathery was denied bail and later pleaded guilty to a single count of second-degree murder, a charge reduced from first-degree murder. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the possibility of his sentence being reduced to ten years for good behavior. Additionally, Cathery received a four-year sentence for possessing a weapon in prison.
The case highlighted the ongoing issues of violence in Chicago's public transit system and the broader community. The surveillance footage played a crucial role in identifying and apprehending Cathery, providing clear evidence of the brutal nature of the attack. The tragic death of Edward Charleston and the subsequent legal proceedings underscore the devastating impact of gun violence and the importance of addressing the root causes of such incidents.
