CTA employee charged in deadly Blue Line shooting

Luther Hopkins III, 24, of Calumet City faces one felony count of unlawful use of a weapon in connection with a shooting incident in the 400 block of S. Peoria on Saturday, April 12.

According to police, Hopkins III and a 61-year-old man got into a verbal altercation near the UIC-Halsted station, which eventually spilled onto the sidewalk of the bridge over Interstate-290. Police said both men pulled out their guns and started shooting at each other.

Police said the 61-year-old man, identified as John Felmister, was shot in the head and taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died.

Authorities identified Hopkins III as a CTA employee. Police questioned and later charged him in connection with the deadly shooting. Authorities did not file any murder charges, however.

Hopkins was due in court for an initial hearing on Tuesday.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports Felmister was a popular doorman at several buildings located in the city’s West Loop neighborhood.