Thomas Kevin Barlow, 57, was shot near the end of his shift outside a CTA maintenance facility.
CHICAGO, IL — A longtime Chicago Transit Authority switch worker was fatally shot early Monday outside a Far South Side rail maintenance facility, leaving relatives, friends and co-workers mourning a man they said lived with kindness and service.
Thomas Kevin Barlow, 57, was shot about 4:15 a.m. Monday near the 98th Street Rail Maintenance Facility in Roseland, officials said. Police said he was found in the 9900 block of South State Street with a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he later died. No arrests had been announced as of Wednesday, and Area 2 detectives were investigating.
The shooting happened outside a major CTA rail yard near State Street, close to where the Dan Ryan Expressway splits toward the Bishop Ford Freeway and about a half-mile south of the 95th Street Red Line terminal. Barlow was a CTA switch worker and had spent about 18 years with the transit agency, according to family members and union representatives. Officials said he was near the end of his shift when he was shot while getting belongings from his vehicle. Investigators have not released a full account of what led to the gunfire, but police and union officials have described the case as an apparent attempted carjacking.
Barlow’s family described him as a son, father, brother and friend whose life was marked by “kindness, service, and quiet strength.” They said he took pride in his CTA work and was often the first to help co-workers and passengers. Relatives also said he was active with Prince Hall Masons and Shriners, checked on elderly neighbors and kept ties to the neighborhood where he was raised. Friends said those habits were not a public image, but part of his daily life. Friend Katina Hill called him “loving, kind-hearted” and willing to help anybody.
Percy Greenwood, another friend, said Barlow was the kind of person who made friendship feel steady and real. Greenwood said Barlow checked on people often and had known his family for years. “Kevin is one of those guys that gives you faith in friendship again,” Greenwood said. The grief quickly spread beyond Barlow’s family to CTA workers who knew him from the rail system, where early-morning and overnight shifts often place employees at yards, shops and terminals before many commuters begin the day.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308 President Pennie McCoach said Barlow’s death raised urgent concerns about worker safety around transit facilities. Union leaders, CTA employees and community advocates gathered after the shooting and called for stronger protections for employees who report to work during overnight and early-morning hours. Organizers said in a statement that every worker deserves to make it home safely after earning an honest living. The CTA arranged grief counselors for workers coping with the loss, union officials said.
Cook County Crime Stoppers later offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case. Police have not publicly identified a suspect, released a vehicle description or announced charges. Investigators also have not said whether surveillance video from the area has helped them trace the person or people involved. The rail facility and nearby roadways include CTA property, an overpass and traffic routes that could become part of the evidence review.
The killing added to long-running concerns about violence affecting transit workers and riders in Chicago. In this case, officials have not said that Barlow was targeted because of his CTA job, and key facts remain unknown. Still, co-workers and union leaders said the location and timing of the shooting made the loss especially painful for employees whose shifts begin or end when streets are quieter and fewer people are nearby. Barlow’s job as a switch worker placed him behind the scenes of the rail system, helping keep trains moving before and during daily service.
By Wednesday, Barlow’s family and friends were still asking for answers while police continued the homicide investigation. No court dates or charges had been announced. The next milestone in the case is whether detectives identify a suspect and whether the reward offer brings new information to investigators.
Author note: Last updated July 1, 2026.