Police say the 15-year-old was among three people who forced Kyle Bickham from a moving Red Line train.
CHICAGO, Ill. — A 15-year-old girl remains in juvenile custody after being charged with first-degree murder and other felonies in the death of Kyle Bickham, a 29-year-old man whom police say was pushed from a moving Chicago Transit Authority Red Line train on Labor Day.
The teenager, whose name has not been publicly released, was arrested Sept. 11 in the Greater Grand Crossing area, four days after Bickham died near the 69th Street station. She appeared in juvenile court the following day, where a judge found probable cause on the charges and ordered her detained. She returned to court Sept. 14 and was again ordered held until her next hearing, which is expected in October.
Chicago police said the incident happened at about 2:30 p.m. Sept. 7 as a Red Line train traveled near 69th Street on the city’s South Side. Investigators said an altercation occurred aboard the train and that three people used force to push Bickham from the moving rail car. Authorities initially reported that a passenger had jumped from the train, but investigators later changed that account and opened a homicide investigation.
Bickham landed near the electrified third rail and was later struck by another train, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiner determined that Bickham died from multiple injuries caused by the train strike and ruled his death a homicide. The ruling describes the manner of death and does not by itself determine criminal responsibility.
Police identified the arrested teenager as one of three people allegedly involved in pushing Bickham from the train. Authorities charged her with several felonies, including first-degree murder, mob action, murder during another forcible felony and aggravated battery involving a transit employee. The allegations remain pending in juvenile court, and the charges do not constitute a finding of guilt.
As of Monday morning, police had announced no arrests of the two other people they believe were involved. Authorities had also not publicly released a detailed account explaining what caused the confrontation aboard the train. Bickham’s relatives said they did not know the people suspected of involvement and were still seeking answers about what happened before he was pushed from the train.
Bickham’s family said he was returning home after working a shift at an Amazon warehouse in Cicero when the incident occurred. Relatives described him as hardworking, caring and close to his family. His father, Christopher Bickham Sr., said the loss had taken away a source of happiness for the family, while other relatives remembered Bickham for his sense of humor, interest in poetry and devotion to his siblings and nieces.
The family spoke publicly over the weekend and urged witnesses and anyone else involved in the confrontation to cooperate with investigators. Christopher Bickham Jr., the victim’s brother, called on the remaining people sought by police to surrender. The family also raised concerns about security on CTA trains and questioned whether additional safeguards could have prevented the circumstances that led to Bickham’s death.
The case drew added attention because police initially described Bickham as having jumped from the train. Investigators later said evidence showed that he had been pushed during the onboard altercation. The revised account led detectives to treat the death as a homicide and search for three people believed to have participated. Police have not publicly detailed what evidence caused investigators to change their initial assessment.
The 15-year-old remains detained while the case proceeds through juvenile court. Her next hearing is expected in October. Police continue to investigate Bickham’s death and seek the other people they believe were involved, with no additional arrests publicly announced as of the latest available local reporting.
Author note: Last updated September 16, 2026.