A concealed carry holder fired two rounds on the Belmont Blue Line platform during the evening rush hour Monday and police later found two guns in his backpack, prosecutors said. No one was injured.
“That could have been a disaster,” Judge John Lyke said during a bond court hearing for Miguel Saucedo Romero on Tuesday afternoon. “Thankfully, it wasn’t.”
Commuters were standing on the platform when Romero pulled out a handgun and fired two shots into the station’s brick wall around 5:15 p.m., according to police and prosecutors.
Witnesses ran from the station and flagged down a passing patrol car. Those officers searched for a suspect and spotted Romero nearby, according to prosecutors. They arrested him on the 3100 block of West Wellington after a short foot chase.
Officers recovered two loaded handguns from his bag, Assistant State’s Attorney Darryl Auguste said. The incident was recorded by CTA surveillance cameras, according to Auguste.
Prosecutors charged Romero with reckless discharge of a firearm.
A public defender said Romero is 30, unemployed, and has never been arrested before.
Judge Lyke set bail at $35,000. He ordered Romero to go on electronic monitoring if he posts bond. Romero must also surrender his gun licenses and weapons within 24 hours of being released, Lyke said.
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