The Northern District of Illinois charged 50-year-old Lawrence Reed with one count of committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system after he allegedly doused and set a 26-year-old woman on fire aboard a CTA Blue Line train just before 9:30 p.m. Security footage and surveillance reportedly show Reed pouring a liquid over the victim, attempting to ignite it, then later lighting her on fire and watching as she burned. The woman collapsed at Clark and Lake with severe burns; investigators recovered a melted bottle, a lighter and suspected ignitable liquid on the train. Reed was arrested the next morning wearing the same clothes and with burns to his right hand; he later shouted admissions in custody and was ordered to undergo a mental evaluation.
Man Charged With Federal Terrorism Count After Allegedly Setting Woman Ablaze on Chicago Blue Line
The Northern District of Illinois charged 50-year-old Lawrence Reed with one count of committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system after he allegedly doused and set a 26-year-old woman on fire aboard a CTA Blue Line train just before 9:30 p.m. Security footage and surveillance reportedly show Reed pouring a liquid over the victim, attempting to ignite it, then later lighting her on fire and watching as she burned. The woman collapsed at Clark and Lake with severe burns; investigators recovered a melted bottle, a lighter and suspected ignitable liquid on the train. Reed was arrested the next morning wearing the same clothes and with burns to his right hand; he later shouted admissions in custody and was ordered to undergo a mental evaluation.
Federal Charge Filed After Alleged Arson on CTA Blue Line
Federal prosecutors in the Northern District of Illinois have charged 50-year-old Lawrence Reed with one count of committing a terrorist attack or other violence against a mass transportation system after an attack on a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line train Monday night.
According to a criminal complaint, the incident occurred just before 9:30 p.m. Security footage reviewed by investigators shows Reed walking through a train car holding a bottle. The complaint states he approached a 26-year-old woman who had her back turned, poured liquid over her head and body and attempted to ignite it.
The woman initially fought him off and ran toward the front of the car with Reed pursuing. The filing alleges Reed lit the bottle, dropped it, then later used it to set the victim on fire. After igniting her, he walked to the front of the car and "stood watching" as "her body was engulfed in flames," the complaint says.
The train stopped at Clark and Lake in The Loop, where the injured woman exited and collapsed on the platform. Bystanders began tending to her until police and emergency crews arrived. Officers found her lying on her back with severe burns to her face and body.
Investigators recovered a partially melted bottle and a lighter inside the train car, along with a clear "suspected ignitable liquid" near where the victim had been seated and clothing that appeared burned. Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station reportedly shows the suspect filling a small container with gasoline shortly before the attack.
Reed was arrested the following morning wearing the same clothes shown in the train footage and, according to the complaint, with fire-related injuries to his right hand. While being transported to a detective division, prosecutors say he shouted spontaneous statements including "burn b----" and "burn alive b----."
In federal court the next day, Reed reportedly shouted "I plead guilty!" upon entering, declined to accept counsel and began singing in the courtroom. The judge and prosecutor agreed he will undergo a medical mental evaluation.
Charges and next steps: Reed faces a federal terrorism-related charge tied to a mass transit system; his case will proceed in the Northern District of Illinois while authorities continue the investigation.