Man killed in West Loop shootout with CTA worker remembered as beloved doorman

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A beloved doorman, who was killed this weekend in a shootout near the UIC-Halsted Blue Line station, is being remembered as someone who helped everyone he knew.

John Flemister, 61, worked at various buildings in the West Loop.

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He was shot and killed about 6 p.m. Saturday, as he headed home from work, on a pedestrian walking bridge near the vestibule of the CTA Blue Line platform in the 400-block of South Peoria Street at Van Buren Street, CPD said.

Flemister and a 24-year-old CTA worker were at the location and involved in a verbal argument that escalated into an exchange of gunfire, officials said in court Tuesday.

Prosecutors said Flemister pulled his gun first and started shooting, so the worker fired in self-defense.

Flemister was shot in the head during the shootout, CPD said. He died at the hospital.

The CTA worker was taken into custody and questioned by police at Area 3, officials said.

Luther Hopkins III, 24, of Calumet City has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon, but not murder, in the shooting.

No other injuries were reported.

No further charges were added in court Tuesday, and Hopkins was not detained.

Flemister's niece said she doesn't know why anyone would want to harm her uncle.

"My uncle would help anyone. Anyone in need, he would be there for them, like, he was the sweetest person in the world, the face of the West Loop," Sabrina Holton said. "My uncle was very nice man. To be honest, they may have killed their guardian angel."

Holton lived in the same building as her uncle, and says he was helping her raise her two daughters.

Flemister's family is heartbroken.

"He done fought in the war for us. He had too much to lose to try to get into any type of gunfire with anyone. If anything, he would be trying to defend someone," Holton said.

Flemister's family says the circumstances surrounding his death are hard to believe.

In a statement, the CTA said:

"The CTA takes seriously any act of violence that occurs on our system. CTA has been fully cooperating with local law enforcement as they investigate this matter, including providing any relevant surveillance footage as part of the investigation.

"We can confirm that an employee was in violation of several CTA workforce rules, including one that expressly prohibits the possession of a firearm. CTA is pursuing discipline of this employee, up to and including termination.

"Any other details regarding this matter will need to be provided by CPD."

READ ALSO | Man killed in shootout in West Loop; CTA Blue Line trains stopped nearby, officials say

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