Prosecutors on Tuesday accused a man of shooting a CTA bus driver in the face after the victim asked him to step off the bus at the end of its route in the Loop on Saturday evening.
Dennis Green, 38, was ordered held without bail by Judge John Lyke on charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery of a transit employee, Class X armed habitual criminal, and possession of a defaced firearm.
The 34-year-old driver asked Green to exit the bus when they reached the end of the line on the first block of East Washington around 8:58 p.m., prosecutors said. Green allegedly responded by yelling at the driver and spitting in his face.
He then stepped off the bus and began struggling with the driver who was trying to walk Green to a nearby CPD squad car, according to prosecutors. During the altercation, Green allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the driver one time in the left jaw.
A witness reportedly kept an eye on Green as he ran from the area and removed some of his outer clothing. The witness directed cops to Green’s location, and they took him into custody minutes after the shooting. Prosecutors said a loaded 9-millimeter handgun fell from Green’s jacket as they arrested him.
The bus driver suffered a fractured jaw and will undergo a series of surgeries in the coming days, prosecutors said.
Green has been sentenced to prison four times, including eight years for aggravated robbery in 2001, five years for attempted burglary in 2005, and 42 months for unlawful use of a weapon by a felon in 2009, according to court records.
His next court hearing is scheduled for September 15.
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