Lawrence Reed, 50, was federally charged on Nov. 19 with "committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system" after prosecutors say he set a 26-year-old woman on fire aboard a CTA Blue Line train near Clark and Lake on Nov. 17. The victim escaped but remains hospitalized in critical condition. Reed faces a potential life sentence; authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive and the investigation is ongoing.
Chicago Man Charged with Terrorism After Alleged Blue Line Arson Attack
Lawrence Reed, 50, was federally charged on Nov. 19 with "committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system" after prosecutors say he set a 26-year-old woman on fire aboard a CTA Blue Line train near Clark and Lake on Nov. 17. The victim escaped but remains hospitalized in critical condition. Reed faces a potential life sentence; authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive and the investigation is ongoing.
02:31 PM, 11/20/2025Security
A 50-year-old Chicago man, Lawrence Reed, has been federally charged with committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system after prosecutors say he set a woman on fire aboard a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line train.
Federal authorities announced the charge — "committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system" — on Nov. 19. The allegation carries a potential sentence of life in federal prison.
The incident occurred just before 9:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 17, aboard a Blue Line train near the Clark and Lake station in the city's Loop. According to the criminal complaint, Reed approached a 26-year-old woman who was seated, removed the cap from a bottle of liquid, and poured the contents over her head and body. The complaint says the woman tried to flee, but Reed caught up, the liquid ignited as the bottle fell from his hand, and he then picked up the burning container and used it to set the woman on fire.
The victim, who has not been publicly identified, escaped the train but remains hospitalized with critical injuries.
Police initially considered whether an argument had preceded the attack, but the criminal complaint and the U.S. Attorney's Office statement do not cite any exchange between Reed and the victim. Prosecutors and law enforcement have not publicly disclosed a motive.
"This horrific attack was not just a barbaric assault on an innocent woman riding a train, but an act of terrorism that strikes at the core of our American way of life," said Andrew S. Boutros, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. He said federal, state and local partners will act swiftly to pursue justice and protect the public.
Reed was scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura K. McNally on Nov. 19. The original criminal complaint and the arrest were announced jointly by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (Chicago Field Division), and the Chicago Police Department.
Authorities continue to investigate. No additional suspects or a motive have been publicly confirmed.