Second suspect charged in death of man pushed from Chicago Red Line train

Katlar Parchman, 19, faces murder and other felony charges in connection with the death of 29-year-old Kyle Bickham, who was pushed from a moving CTA train earlier this month.

A second person has been charged in the death of 29-year-old Kyle Bickham, who police say was pushed from a moving Chicago Transit Authority Red Line train during an altercation earlier this month.

Chicago police arrested Katlar Parchman, 19, on Sept. 16 after investigators identified her as one of the people allegedly involved in Bickham’s death. She faces one count of first-degree murder, two counts of murder during the commission of another forcible felony, aggravated battery to a transit employee and mob action involving force by two or more people, according to police.

Parchman appeared in court Saturday, where prosecutors provided additional details about the confrontation aboard the train. A judge ordered her to remain detained pending further proceedings.

The case stems from the Sept. 7 death of Bickham, who was riding a Red Line train near the 69th Street station on Chicago’s South Side. Police initially believed Bickham had jumped from the moving train. Investigators later determined that he had been pushed during an altercation.

According to prosecutors, Bickham was on the train with a group of four people, including Parchman and the 15-year-old girl who was previously charged in the case. The other two people have not been publicly identified or charged.

Prosecutors said Saturday that Bickham approached passengers and their belongings before an argument broke out. They allege that Bickham spit on Parchman and the 15-year-old girl during the confrontation.

The situation then escalated, prosecutors said.

According to the allegations presented in court, Parchman punched, slapped and grabbed Bickham as members of the group surrounded him. Investigators say the group pulled an emergency lever, opened the doors of the train and forced Bickham out of the moving rail car.

Bickham landed on the electrified third rail and became incapacitated, according to police. He was then struck by another train.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified Bickham and ruled his death a homicide.

Bickham’s family has previously said he was heading home to Lansing after working at an Amazon warehouse in Cicero. His loved ones have described him as hardworking, caring and devoted to his family.

His father, Christopher Bickham Sr., told ABC 7 that his son loved writing poetry and spending time with his family. Relatives have also remembered Bickham as someone who enjoyed making people laugh and spending time with his nieces.

Following his death, Bickham’s family publicly appealed for information about the people who were allegedly involved. At a vigil near the 69th Street station, his father expressed the family’s devastation over losing his son.

The family has also raised questions about how the train doors were opened while the train was moving and called for accountability surrounding what happened aboard the CTA train.

Parchman’s arrest marks the second publicly announced criminal case stemming from Bickham’s death.

The 15-year-old girl was arrested Sept. 11 and charged with first-degree murder and other felony counts. Because she is a juvenile, authorities have not publicly identified her. A juvenile court judge ordered her held in custody after prosecutors established probable cause in the case.

The investigation remains ongoing. Police have said multiple people were involved in the confrontation, and authorities have not announced charges against the other individuals identified in connection with the incident.

For Bickham’s family, the latest arrest brings another development in a case that began with conflicting accounts of how the 29-year-old died.

What initially appeared to investigators to be a person jumping from a moving train was later determined to be a fatal confrontation involving multiple people, according to Chicago police.

Parchman is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.