Retired Officer Charged in Shooting of Homewood Man at Naperville Amtrak Station

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL - A retired federal law enforcement officer is being held on a $1.5 million bail for allegedly shooting an Amtrak conductor in Naperville earlier this week. Edward Klein, 79, of West Allis, Wis., appeared in bond court Friday morning. He has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm for opening fire on a conductor at the Naperville train station platform during rush hour Tuesday, according to authorities.

The Amtrak conductor, who has been identified as Michael Case, 45, of Homewood, was shot in his stomach. He was transported to a local hospital where he underwent surgery for his injuries, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release.

At about 9 a.m. on May 16, an Amtrak train bound for Chicago left Kansas City with Klein allegedly on board, Berlin said. The train pulled into the downtown Naperville train station at about 4:45 p.m. where some passengers exiting the train but Klein allegedly remained on the train. After the doors closed, Klein pulled out a revolver, stuck his arm out of the window of the train door and fired one shot, striking the conductor in the abdomen, according to prosecutors.

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Klein told authorities he was angry because he was not able to get off the train, the Naperville Sun reports.

"I had built up all this anger and I blew him away," Klein allegedly told police.

After firing the gun, Klein then tried to get off the train through the same window he shot from. Train personnel and other passengers detained him until authorities arrived.

“I would also like to recognize the brave acts of the passengers who restrained the suspect until police arrived, preventing him from possibly inflicting more harm," Naperville Chief of Police Robert Marshall said in a Friday news release. "We continue to keep the victim and his family in our thoughts and hope for his full recovery.”

During his bond hearing on Friday, Klein, a retired federal protective services officer who lives at an independent living facility in West Allis, did not seem to understand the seriousness of his crime, according to the Naperville Sun. He kept turning down offers for a public defender and kept saying he would be leaving tomorrow.

"I don't need one if I'm leaving," he said.

As of late Friday morning, Klein remained in custody at the DuPage County Jail, according to online jail records. He must post $150,000, which is 10 percent of his $1.5 million bail, to be released from custody.

“The charges against Mr. Klein are very serious and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Berlin said. “While the injuries sustained by the victim in this case are quite severe, it is my sincerest hope that he will make a full recovery and be back on the job soon."

According to a statement from Amtrak, the conductor suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. A Twitter user posted a photo of a man being taken away on a stretcher near the station.

Klein is next expected in court on June 12.

Meanwhile, an effort is underway to help the family of Case, the Navy veteran and Amtrak train conductor who was shot, with medical expenses. A GoFundMe page with a simple goal to help the family has been initiated by employees of the 5th Quarter Restaurant in Homewood, where Case's wife works.

• Outpouring Begins for Wounded Train Conductor
  

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