Man Proudly Declares Gang Affiliation Before Shooting on CTA Bus
According to prosecutors, a disturbing incident took place earlier this year on a CTA bus, where a man proudly declared his gang affiliation before opening fire and injuring two passengers. Shockingly, it was revealed that the accused was on probation for another gun-related offense at the time of the incident.
On April 27, at around 11:33 p.m., a 40-year-old man boarded a westbound #77 Belmont bus with his girlfriend. They sat in front of 18-year-old William Soto, who initiated a conversation with the man during the ride. Soto, a member of the Maniac Latin Disciples gang, made his affiliation known to the man, despite them never speaking before.
As the couple prepared to exit the bus at Cicero, Soto allegedly threatened the man, indicating that he had something planned for him outside. The man’s girlfriend noticed a gun in Soto’s possession and prevented her boyfriend from exiting through the rear doors. Once outside, Soto fired shots through the glass doors, injuring the 40-year-old man in the thigh and an unrelated 22-year-old passenger in the ankle.
Both victims were promptly treated and released from local hospitals on the same night. Chicago police detectives gathered video evidence from various sources, including the CTA, nearby businesses, and residential Ring cameras, which captured the shooting and Soto’s attempt to flee the scene. Surveillance footage showed Soto running down the street and entering his home after the incident.
William Soto now faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm toward an occupied vehicle, and unlawful use of a weapon. Judge Ankur Srivastava deemed him a public safety risk and ordered his detention.
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