The man shown in surveillance footage released by the Chicago Police Department from the fatal Sunday night CTA bus shooting of a Julian High School student turned himself in at a South Side church Wednesday after cries from his mother to come forward.
The man shown in surveillance footage released by the Chicago Police Department from the fatal Sunday night CTA bus shooting of a Julian High School student turned himself in at a South Side church Wednesday after cries from his mother to come forward.
But he said he is "innocent."
Milton Wardlaw, 24, said he was on the bus and did get into a verbal altercation with another man, but he didn’t have a gun and a gun was turned on him as he was escorted off the bus by the unidentified man.
The argument led to the death of 17-year-old Kiyanna Salter, who was on the No. 71 bus near 71st Street and Cottage Grove Avenue about 10 p.m. with her cousin.
As he waited with his family at Evening Star M.B. Church for authorities to take him into custody, Wardlaw said the man pulled a gun on him and "basically escorted me off the bus."
Afterwards, he ran and heard gunshots, he said.
Wardlaw, who is on probation for firearms and drug convictions, said the video should support his statement.
A tearful Patricia Wilson, Wardlaw’s mother, was happy that her son turned himself in.
"I’m relieved to see my son, and he’s here safely. He wants to do the right thing. I just thank God that everything turned out this way," Wilson said.
A spokesperson for the police department confirmed that a suspect is in custody.
No charges have been filed.
A fund to help with funeral costs for the high school senior has been set up at Washington Mutual Bank.
Services for Salter will be Oct. 13 at St. Sabina Church, 1201 W. 78th Place. The time for the services has not been finalized.
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