CHICAGO — Remember the guy who prosecutors said “busjacked” a #67 CTA bus three years ago? Well, he’s now accused of beating and robbing a man while riding a Red Line train.
In December 2021, prosecutors said Maurice Lowry forced a CTA bus driver to take him to an off-route destination at gunpoint. When the driver told Lowry that the bus didn’t go to his desired destination, he pulled out a gun and ordered two passengers to get off near 69th Street and Western Avenue, officials said at the time.
“Today,” Lowry allegedly told the driver at gunpoint, “you are going there.”
The driver began heading toward Lowry’s desired address until he ordered her to stop so he could go into a gas station, prosecutors claimed. Video from the gas station allegedly showed Lowry hiding a gun on the shelves of an attached convenience store.
Prosecutors initially charged Lowry with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and said they expected to file additional charges in the case. But court records show Lowry was never charged with anything other than illegally possessing a firearm.
He received a one-year sentence on the gun charge from Judge James Linn in December 2022.
Currently, the Cook County jail is holding 31-year-old Lowry while he awaits trial on recently filed robbery charges.
CPD transit officers arrested him at the State-Lake station on November 29 because they recognized him as the person wanted in connection with a May 28 robbery at 79th Street, a police report said.
Prosecutors said the victim fell asleep while riding a southbound Red Line train home around 10:30 p.m. While he slept, Lowry and a still-unidentified accomplice allegedly rifled through his backpack and took items. They went to another area of the train, returned to the victim, took more items, left again, and then returned a third time.
The victim woke up during their third visit and confronted both robbers. The altercation turned physical, and Lowry kicked and struck the victim with a hard object, according to the allegations. During the scuffle, the victim’s wallet fell to the train floor. Prosecutors said Lowry’s accomplice picked it up and removed $60 cash and the man’s credit cards.
CPD released surveillance images of the robbery suspects on June 1. A detective subsequently recognized Lowry, and police began to look for him.
Judge Antara Rivera granted the state’s detention petition.
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