Horrific Attack on Chicago Transit: Woman Set Ablaze While Commuting

In a disturbing incident that has shocked Chicago, 50-year-old Lawrence Reed has been federally charged with committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system after allegedly setting a young woman on fire on a Chicago Blue Line train. According to federal prosecutors, Reed deliberately approached the woman, who was simply reading her phone and minding her own business, doused her with gasoline, and set her ablaze while reportedly yelling “burn b—-.” The attack, which occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Monday, has raised serious questions about public transit safety and the justice system that allowed Reed to be free despite his extensive criminal history. The victim remains in critical condition with severe burns to her face and body after managing to stumble off the train while still on fire, where two bystanders finally came to her aid and extinguished the flames.

The calculated nature of the attack has disturbed investigators and the public alike. Surveillance footage captured Reed purchasing gasoline approximately 20 minutes before boarding the train, then approaching the unsuspecting victim from behind. After dousing her with the flammable liquid, he ignited it and, according to U.S. District Attorney Andrew Boutros, stood watching as the woman, engulfed in flames, desperately rolled on the floor trying to extinguish the fire. Most disturbing is that no other passengers on the train attempted to help her during these terrifying moments. It was only after she managed to exit the train at the Clark and Lake station, collapsing on the platform while still burning, that two bystanders finally intervened to help put out the flames. Emergency responders then transported the critically injured woman for urgent medical care.

When authorities arrested Reed the following morning, he was still wearing the same clothing from the attack and had burns on his right hand, suggesting his proximity to the flames he had created. His behavior during arrest was equally alarming, as officers reported he repeatedly shouted “burn b—-” and “burn alive b—-” while being transported to the detective division. His court appearance was equally disturbing, with Reed reportedly interrupting proceedings to shout “I plead guilty, I plead guilty, I plead guilty,” and responding “It’s cool, it’s cool, it’s cool” when informed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally that the maximum sentence for his charges could be life imprisonment. Though the judge suggested mental and medical evaluations, prosecutors noted that Reed had never previously been declared mentally incompetent in connection with any of his numerous prior charges.

Reed’s extensive criminal history has become a focal point in discussions about the justice system’s handling of repeat offenders. Records reveal at least 13 arrests by the Chicago Police Department alone since 2017, with charges ranging from battery and criminal damage to property to more serious offenses. Perhaps most troubling is his April 2020 charge of felony aggravated arson, when he allegedly started a fire at the Thompson Center during one of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 briefings. Reed also has a documented history of seemingly random attacks on women, including punching multiple women in the face and slapping a man at a CTA Blue Line platform. Following his court appearance for this latest attack, ATF Special Agent in Charge Chris Amon emphasized Reed’s violent history, stating, “Reed had plenty of second chances by the criminal justice system, and as a result, you have an innocent victim in the hospital fighting for her life.”

The circumstances surrounding Reed’s freedom at the time of the attack have sparked particular outrage. In August, he was charged with aggravated battery after allegedly assaulting a woman at a psychiatric hospital. Despite prosecutors’ requests to keep him detained, he was released with only an ankle monitor as a restriction. This decision has now come under intense scrutiny as a potential failure of the justice system to protect the public from an individual with clear patterns of escalating violent behavior. Reed’s criminal record spans multiple years and includes numerous violent offenses, leading many to question why someone with such a history was allowed to move freely through the city’s public transit system, ultimately resulting in this horrific attack on an innocent commuter.

This incident adds to growing concerns about safety on public transportation in major American cities, particularly as violent transit crimes have been increasing in metropolitan areas. The randomness and brutality of the attack highlight the vulnerability of commuters who rely on public transit daily. As the victim fights for her life in the hospital, this case serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers facing everyday citizens and the critical importance of effective criminal justice policies that balance rehabilitation with public safety. The community is left grappling not only with the horror of what happened to an innocent woman simply trying to get home, but also with difficult questions about how the system failed to prevent such a tragedy from a suspect with a well-documented history of violence and concerning behavior.