The South Side of Chicago is dealing with a heavy cloud of heartbreak this week. A beloved local man went to work his usual shift and never made it back home. The tragic incident took place right outside a train yard where he spent nearly two decades serving his community.
Kevin Barlow was a 57-year-old devoted family man and a deeply loyal friend. He was the kind of guy who lived right next door to his elderly father just to take care of him. Everyone in the neighborhood knew him as someone who always stepped up to help out.
For 18 years, Kevin worked faithfully as a CTA switch worker. He took immense pride in keeping the city’s public transit system running smoothly and safely. His coworkers knew they could always count on him to get the job done right.
Things took a horrific turn early Monday morning around 4:15 a.m. Kevin was working his shift at the 98th Street Rail Maintenance Facility in the Roseland community. He stepped out to his car to grab something real quick when a killer ambushed him on South State Street.
The attacker shot Kevin straight in the chest during what looks like a rough carjacking. Paramedics rushed him to Christ Hospital in critical condition. Doctors did everything they could, but Kevin sadly passed away from his injuries.
His sudden death has left his close friends and family completely stunned. His long-time buddy, Percy Greenwood, shared how Kevin used to call him every single morning at 6:00 a.m. just to make sure he woke up on time for work. That was just the type of loving person Kevin was.
The local transit union is completely devastated by the loss of one of their own. They are making sure grief counselors are available for all the transit workers who are struggling to cope with this sudden nightmare.
The Barlow family is now left to pick up the pieces and will announce funeral arrangements later. The whole community is mourning a great man whose protective spirit and warm smile will never be forgotten.
