An Illinois judge on Thursday ordered a suspect in the shooting of an Amtrak conductor to receive a mental health evaluation.
DuPage County judge Daniel Guerin made the ruling in granting a motion from a defense attorney representing Edward Klein, who is charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault.
Klein, 79, of West Allis, Wisconsin, is charged in connection with the shooting of Michael Case of Homewood, Illinois, as he worked on the platform at Naperville, Illinois, after the eastbound Southwest Chief came to a halt there.
Case, who remains hospitalized, was shot once in the abdomen during the May 16 shooting.
Prosecutors have said in court filings that Klein became angry when he was denied permission to disembark from the train in Naperville rather than continue to Chicago Union Station as he was ticketed.
Amtrak personnel kept the door of the car in which Klein was riding closed to prevent him from disembarking because they were concerned about his welfare.
Some passengers have told reporters that Klein was exhibiting disturbing behavior before the train reached Naperville and that he had caused a disturbance in Kansas City, when Train No. 4 was late in arriving at the station there.
A news report indicated that during a May 19 court hearing, Klein seemed unable to grasp the severity of the situation.
He said several times that he was leaving the next day and said he would not need the public defender to represent him because he would soon be leaving.
During the Thursday hearing, Klein spoke several times, telling the judge at one point that he had an appointment.
Judge Guerin, though, ordered the public defender’s office to represent Klein, who is being held in lieu of $1.5 million bail.
“After meeting with our client, we had immediate concerns about his fitness to stand trial,” said Assistant Public Defender Jennifer Maples.
Klein could be sent to a security facility if he is found mentally unfit. He might be sent to Elgin Mental Health Center, to receive treatment.
If doctors later determine that he is mentally fit, the criminal court proceedings against Klein would continue.
Klein is a former officer with the Federal Protective Service, which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. His next court date has been set for late June.
Tags: Amtrak, Amtrak conductor shooting, Amtrak conductors, Amtrak's Southwest Chief, DuPage County Illinois, Edward Klein, mental health evaluation, Michael Case
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