Chicago — A man charged with a violent act of terrorism on a public transit system has been indicted for two additional random assaults earlier this year. Lawrence Reed, 50, faces federal charges linked to an incident on a CTA Blue Line train, where he allegedly set a woman on fire in an unprovoked attack.
According to prosecutors, the incident occurred around 9 p.m. on November 17. Reed approached Bethany MaGee, 26, as she was engrossed in her phone on an O’Hare-bound Blue Line train. Authorities allege he poured a flammable liquid on her and ignited it, resulting in severe burns covering much of her body. U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros described the surveillance footage as deeply distressing, showing MaGee desperately attempting to extinguish the flames while onlookers fled or stood by.
Once the train reached Clark/Lake station, MaGee managed to exit but collapsed on the platform and was subsequently rushed to Stroger Hospital, where she remains in critical condition.
A review of Reed’s background revealed a troubling history, with over 70 prior arrests and current conditions requiring him to wear an ankle monitor due to a previous violent incident in August involving a social worker at a psychiatric facility. At the time of the fire attack, he was reportedly under a curfew linked to that earlier case.
Compounding his legal issues, Chicago police charged Reed with two attacks that occurred on March 27. In that incident, Reed allegedly approached a 23-year-old woman on the train, made unwanted physical contact, and attempted to sexually assault her. When a 27-year-old man attempted to intervene, Reed allegedly assaulted him as well before fleeing the scene. He was apprehended shortly after by police and was sent for a mental health evaluation.
In connection with these March allegations, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office stated that they were not informed of any custody regarding Reed and were first alerted to the case on November 20, just three days after the incident involving MaGee. Legal analysts suggest that recent high-profile cases may have prompted witnesses from the March incident to come forward.
The situation has sparked significant discourse regarding the effectiveness of electronic monitoring systems. Reed reportedly violated curfew rules multiple times in the weeks leading up to the November attack, including on the day of the incident. Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans noted that the pretrial services division processes an average of 8,500 electronic monitoring alerts weekly, and while these alerts should be communicated to the State’s Attorney’s Office, that protocol has faced scrutiny.
The State’s Attorney’s Office has refuted claims of having been informed about Reed’s violations before the November incident, asserting the only communication came on November 19. Reed is currently in federal custody as he awaits trial for the attack on MaGee, leaving many questions unanswered about accountability within the electronic monitoring system and the broader implications for public safety.