Illinois Amtrak Shooting: Milwaukee Area Man Held On $1.5M Bond

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL — A retired federal law enforcement officer from West Allis, Wisconsin, accused of shooting a Amtrak conductor in the stomach in Illinois earlier this week appeared in court Friday morning, where he was ordered held on $1.5 million bond, according to media reports. Edward Klein, 79, has been charged with a count each of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm.

The conductor, 45-year-old Michael Case, was shot once in the stomach when the Amtrak train made a scheduled stop in Naperville, Illinois, during the afternoon rush hour Tuesday. The conductor underwent emergency surgery and was in intensive care.

Klein was apparently angry that he wasn’t allowed to get off the train when it stopped at Naperville around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday Police said Klein drew his revolver after the train door closed, stuck his hand out the window of the train door and opened fire on Case.

“I had built up all this anger and I blew him away,” Klein reportedly told police. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Milwaukee Patch, click here to find your local Wisconsin Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

He tried to leave the train from the same window he shot from, but was detained by other passengers until authorities aerived.

Klein, a retired 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, the Naperville Sun reported. He turned 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,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release. “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.”

Klein is next expected in court on June 12.

For more on this story, go to Naperville Patch.

Written by Amie Rowland (Patch Staff)

Police handout photo