The Latest: Judge orders $250,000 bail for Amtrak officer

CHICAGO – The Latest on charges against an Amtrak officer in Chicago for the shooting death of a Minneapolis man (all times local):

3:10 p.m.

A judge has ordered an Amtrak police officer held on $250,000 bail in the shooting death of a Minneapolis man outside Chicago’s Union Station.

The Cook County judge made the decision Friday after prosecutors asked that 31-year-old LaRoyce Tankson be held without bond. Tankson faces a first-degree murder count in the Feb. 8 shooting of 25-year-old Chad Robertson.

Tankson’s attorney, Will Fahy, said Tankson saw Robertson turn and reach for what Tankson thought was a gun. Fahy says Tankson “reasonably believed he was about to be shot.” Fahy said Tankson is a father of three and is married to a firefighter.

The Cook County medical examiner found that Robertson was shot in the back.

An attorney for Robertson’s family filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the then-unknown officer and Amtrak seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

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11:40 a.m.

Prosecutors have charged an Amtrak police officer in the shooting death of a Minneapolis man outside Chicago’s Union Station.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s office announced Friday that 31-year-old LaRoyce Tankson surrendered to police Thursday. He has been charged with first-degree murder in the Feb. 8 shooting of 25-year-old Chad Robertson, who died Wednesday.

Robertson was taking a bus from Memphis, Tennessee, to Minneapolis and was on a stopover in Chicago when the shooting occurred.

According to his relatives, the transit officer fired at Robertson as he ran during an encounter.

Amtrak and Tankson have not responded to phone messages left Friday seeking comment.

The Robertsons’ attorney has said the family is considering a wrongful death lawsuit.

Tankson is scheduled to appear in bond court Friday.

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