An Amtrak conductor was shot by a septuagenarian passenger Tuesday as he stood on a Naperville train platform, police said.
The conductor, a 45-year-old man from Homewood, was shot in the torso, according to Amtrak and police. The wound was considered non-life threatening, according to Amtrak. The suspect, a man in his 70s from Wisconsin, fired from the window of a train, according to police. The alleged shooter was found by police being restrained by passengers on the train, authorities said.
A handgun was recovered from the scene, according to Naperville police Cmdr. Lou Cammiso.
“The conductor had stepped off the train and when the suspect reached through the window and shot him,” Cammiso told reporters.
The conductor, whose identity has not been released, was conscious and alert when police arrived on the scene, according to authorities.
Police do not yet know of a motive for the shooting and the suspect is being held in the Naperville police station.
"Local commuter Metra trains will be off-loading passengers on the north side of the train station at 5th Ave and Ellsworth," Linda LaCloche, communications manager for Naperville, said in an email. "Pace buses also will be moved to the north side of the train station. Passenger pick-up will be moved to the north side as well. Access to 5th Ave has been re-opened to facilitate this."
The Amtrak train, called the Southwest Chief, runs from Los Angeles to Chicago and was carrying 235 passengers at the time.
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Per Amtrak policy, unloaded weapons are allowed in checked bags with advanced notice only. Having a loaded gun in a passenger car is considered a violation, according to an Amtrak spokesperson.
The city of Naperville, in a series of tweets, said there is no threat to public safety.
Anyone who may have information is asked to contact the Naperville Police Department at 630 420-6666 or Naperville Crime Stoppers at 630 420-6006.
