Edward Brown, 24, faces up to three years in prison and possibly even more if convicted in a case connected to the recent deaths of two Chicago police officers who were hit by a commuter train Monday.
Attorney Frank Kosturos represented brown during his first court appearance.
“Ultimately he’s a good kid who made a mistake,” Kosturos said.
Prosecutors say Brown was heading home from work when he found a .380 caliber handgun in an alley. Prosecutors say Brown later took the gun to some train tracks near 103rd and Dauphin.
“Once on the train tracks the defendant then fired the handgun once into the air," assistant state's attorney Guy Lisuzzo said. "That was detected by the shot spotter system employed by the Chicago Police Department."
Those shots caused 5th District officers Conrad Gary and Eduardo Marmolejo to respond. Prosecutors say spotted Brown and pursued him.
“The defendant observed the officers SUV and ran back up the embankment to the train tracks,” Lisuzzo said.
Prosecutors say the officers tried to chase down Brown but ended up being struck and killed by a South Shore train they did not see or hear coming.
“My client had no intention for these officers to get hurt," Kosturos said. "What happened to these officers was completely unforeseeable."
Brown is charged with two felony gun counts--which troubles Chicago’s Fraternal order of Police.
“Felony murder charges should be pursued, the Cook County state’s attorney has an obligation to the families of these officers, the police, and the community to vigorously pursue the highest possible charges anytime an officer dies as a result of the criminal actions of an offender," the FOP said in a statement.
