Chicago police have released surveillance video of a man they believe is responsible for the fatal shooting and carjacking of CTA worker Thomas “Kevin” Barlow outside the agency’s 98th Street Railyard entrance on State Street last week.
Barlow, 57, an 18-year veteran of the transit agency, was working the overnight shift on June 29 when he stepped outside the railyard entrance in the 9900 block of South State Street to retrieve something from his black 2012 Mercedes GLK350. At 4;06 a.m., the man seen in the newly released video shot him and left him lying on the pavement, according to CPD. Barlow remained undiscovered for almost ten minutes in the remote area, where ShotSpotter gunfire detectors were removed in September 2024 by order of Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Detectives traced the suspect’s movements using surveillance cameras, recovering video that shows him walking southbound from the 9600 block of South Michigan Avenue toward the railyard before the shooting. For much of the video recorded before the murder, the suspect is seen walking while looking at his phone. CPD said he was wearing a gray Chicago Bears hoodie with a large bear claw design on the back and dark pants.
Video recorded after the killing shows the man walking past a home in the 10100 block of South Perry Avenue without using his phone. About 7 minutes later, he is seen walking back in the opposite direction. Police recovered Barlow’s car in the nearby neighborhood hours after the murder, according to a CPD report.
Someone found Barlow unresponsive outside the railyard entrance at about 4:15 a.m. and called 911. Paramedics arrived about 10 minutes later, discovered he had been shot, and police established a crime scene. Barlow was pronounced dead shortly before 5 a.m.
Cook County Crime Stoppers announced it is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for anonymous information leading to the arrest or indictment of those responsible. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-535-7867 or by visiting CPDTIP.com and referencing case number JK312771.
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