A Chicago man used his cellphone to record himself fatally stabbing a sleeping stranger on a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train early Saturday morning, prosecutors alleged.
Demetrius Thurman, 40, appeared Tuesday before Judge Susana Ortiz on a first-degree murder charge, the Chicago Tribune reported. Prosecutors told the court that Thurman had no known connection to 37-year-old victim Dominique Pollion and that CTA surveillance and the suspect’s own phone recorded the incident.
Pollion was asleep on the Blue Line train for around an hour, according to Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pekara. Thurman then entered the car shortly after 2:17 a.m., prosecutors said. (RELATED: Train Rider Sets Woman On Fire Over Argument, Police Say)
Thurman allegedly approached from behind while holding a phone and stabbed Pollion once near the heart and again in the abdomen with a knife that had an orange handle, according to FOX32 Chicago.
Pollion allegedly woke up screaming and tried to back away before falling. Thurman then moved to another train car, prosecutors said. When the train stopped at Clark/Lake station and security officers responded, Thurman allegedly filmed himself outside the car and said “somebody got his ass” before leaving.
“FTA says CTA safety plan “deficient,” threatens funding cut.”https://t.co/Iloqipytee
— USDOT Rapid Response (@USDOTRapid) December 19, 2025
Investigators used CTA surveillance footage and the state’s facial recognition system to identify Thurman as the suspect. A Chicago police officer who had found Thurman sleeping on a Blue Line train days earlier said he recognized him from a department bulletin.
Officers apprehended Thurman on Sunday in the West Loop. He was allegedly wearing the same clothes from the attack and had his phone, which contained footage of the stabbing and images of additional sleeping passengers, according to prosecutors.
Court records showed Thurman received supervision for disorderly conduct in 2014, a DUI in 2017 and a traffic violation in 2023.
The alleged killing comes as CTA faces federal pressure over safety failures. On Dec. 19, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) gave the agency 90 days to submit a stronger security plan or lose up to $50 million in funding.
“CTA, city, and state leaders are failing transit riders and operators,” FTA Administrator Marc Molinaro said. “If people’s safety is at risk, so are federal funds.”
Thurman remains in custody and is due back in court Feb. 3, the Chicago Tribune reported.