Chicago—A man has been charged with attempted murder after a brutal attack where he allegedly set a young woman on fire on a public transit train last month. Lawrence Reed, 30, was indicted this week by a federal grand jury for the shocking incident that occurred on November 17 aboard a Blue Line train.
According to prosecutors, Reed approached Bethany MaGee, 26, as she was absorbed in her phone on an O’Hare-bound train. Without warning, he poured a flammable liquid on her and ignited it, leaving MaGee with severe burns covering more than half of her body. As the train reached the Clark/Lake station, she managed to escape and collapsed on the platform, where she was later transported to Stroger Hospital and remains in critical condition.
Reed faces additional charges stemming from another incident just days prior, in which he allegedly attempted to set fire to City Hall. The authorities stated that Reed’s actions on November 14 were part of a broader pattern of violent behavior that has raised concerns about public safety.
In a separate incident on March 27, Reed was accused of assaulting two passengers on a different train. Reports indicate that he confronted a 23-year-old woman and attempted to sexually assault her. When a 27-year-old man intervened, Reed allegedly attacked him as well. He was apprehended shortly after but was later taken for a mental health evaluation.
Despite the severity of his recent charges, Reed had been under electronic monitoring, having been placed on an ankle monitor following an alleged violent incident involving a social worker at a psychiatric facility in August. Authorities noted that Reed had violated his curfew multiple times in the days leading up to the fire attack, including on the day of the incident.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s office stated that they were unaware of Reed’s March incident until late November. Many of those violations were flagged as escalated alerts, indicating concerns regarding his compliance with the monitoring requirements.
The alarming nature of the recent attacks has prompted serious questions about the effectiveness of electronic monitoring for individuals with a history of violence. Reed’s extensive criminal record reportedly includes over 70 arrests, which has intensified discussions about how to protect the public from repeat offenders.
Reed remains in federal custody as he awaits trial for the November fire attack. As investigators continue to review the circumstances surrounding his previous assaults, the community grapples with the memory of the horrific events that have unfolded on its public transit system.