Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Shooting CTA Bus Driver
A man accused of firing shots that struck a CTA bus driver after another passenger was fatally shot has been given a seven-year sentence.
Jeremy Howard, 21, was initially charged with attempted murder and other offenses following the July 1, 2024, incident. However, Howard recently pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon with a previous conviction.
On the day of the shooting, Howard, who was on parole from Wisconsin, was on the bus in the 3400 block of South State Street. A fight broke out between two men on the bus, which quickly escalated into a violent confrontation.
According to investigators, Howard was given a gun by 19-year-old Lamar McKay before they, along with two others, confronted a passenger at the front of the bus. McKay attacked the victim, who then shot McKay in self-defense, resulting in McKay’s death. Howard then allegedly fired shots towards the front of the bus, hitting the driver.
After the bus driver pulled over, Howard fled the scene but was apprehended by CPD officers shortly after. A .40 caliber pistol recovered from Howard was found to be linked to the shooting. Howard confessed to the crime and was identified in video footage of the incident.
Following his guilty plea, Judge Carol Howard sentenced Jeremy to seven years in prison, with credit for the 590 days he had already spent in jail. His sentence will be reduced by 50% for good behavior. As he has now been transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections, his estimated parole date is pending.
Prosecutors revealed that Howard was on Wisconsin parole at the time of the shooting for possessing a stolen vehicle and had a prior juvenile firearms conviction in the state.
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