CHICAGO – A man has been charged in connection with the death of a 9-year-old boy who fell down the stairs during an altercation at a West Loop train station, police said.
What we know:
Michael Korosa, 52, faces one felony count of involuntary manslaughter and one felony count of aggravated battery to a transit employee, according to Chicago police.
Pictured is Michael Korosa, 52. (Chicago PD )
He was arrested Aug. 30 in the 5100 block of South Woodlawn Avenue.
Police said Korosa was identified as the suspect who injured 9-year-old Elijah Flores on Aug. 10 at the Clinton Green Line station in the 500 block of West Lake Street. Flores fell down the stairs during the altercation and later died from his injuries.
The family of 9-year-old Elijah Flores, who died last month after a fight at a West Loop train station, is pleading for justice as they prepare for his funeral. (Photo provided)
Authorities said Korosa also battered a 22-year-old man during the incident, causing injuries.
The backstory:
According to court documents, Flores was riding a Green Line train with Jonah Soria, 22, who was dating his mother and living with them.
When the train pulled into the station, Soria pushed Flores onto the platform, grabbed money from another passenger and ran off the train, documents allege.
Flores followed Soria as the theft victim and his friend, Korosa — who was wearing a walking boot and carrying a cane — got off the train and chased after the man.
As Soria ran, he grabbed Flores to make his escape. At the top of a stairwell, he slowed, lifted Flores over his shoulder and ran down the stairs, still holding the money, according to the documents.
Korosa and the theft victim ran behind them. At one point, Korosa struck the man in the back and head with his cane, causing him to fall. He dropped Flores, who struck his head on the stairwell. Soria landed on top of Flores before getting up, but Flores remained face down on the ground, the documents said.
Korosa and the theft victim demanded the money back. Soria then threw the money down the stairs, according to court documents.
Soria then picked up Flores, carried him back to the platform and boarded a train. On the train, Flores became unresponsive. A passenger called 911, and Flores was taken to a hospital, where he died of his injuries. Soria did not accompany him.
Court records show Soria was arrested later that day, but not in connection to what happened on the train platform; instead, on an outstanding warrant out of Lake County where he failed to appear in court in June for a retail theft and battery case.
Korosa was later identified after authorities released a “seeking to identify” bulletin with an image taken from CTA surveillance video.
Flores, who was hospitalized with severe head trauma and brain damage, died on Aug 16. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a homicide.
What’s next:
Korosa appeared in court for a detention hearing on Sept. 1 and was released pre-trial without electronic monitoring.
He’s due back in court on Sept. 4.
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The Source: The information in this article was provided by the Chicago Police Department.
