CHICAGO — A man with a lengthy criminal history is facing a federal terrorism charge after authorities said he set a woman on fire in an unprovoked attack on a CTA Blue Line train Monday night.
A 13-page federal criminal complaint was filed Wednesday, charging Lawrence Reed, 50, with a terrorist attack or other violence against a mass transportation system, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of life in federal prison, if convicted.
Police said the attack unfolded on a northbound train as it approached the CTA station at North Clark Street and West Lake Street in the Loop, just before 9:30 p.m. Monday.
Andrew Boutros, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, called the attack “vicious and brutal,” and said the victim, a 26-year-old woman, was minding her own business and using her phone when everything happened.
According to authorities, Reed was seated in the far back of a CTA car with the woman sitting with her back towards him in the middle of the car.
Authorities allege Reed got up and walked through the car while holding a bottle. He then allegedly poured liquid on the woman’s head and body and attempted to ignite the liquid.
The woman fought off Reed and ran to the front of the train, but he chased after her, the complaint states. Reed then ignited the bottle, which fell out of his hands as the victim ran toward the other end of the train to try and get away, and after picking it back up, Reed used it to light the victim on fire.
Prosecutors said the suspect watched as the victim was engulfed, trying desperately to roll on the floor in an attempt to extinguish the fire.
“The surveillance video is difficult to watch and is very disturbing, as a young woman was set ablaze and tried to put herself out, while other passengers got out of the way or watched,” said Boutros. “When the train stopped and the victim was able to muster the strength to stumble on the platform, two good samaritans put out the flames.”
As the victim collapsed on the platform, federal authorities said Reed managed to exit the train.
Authorities took the woman to a hospital where she remains in critical condition after suffering burns to her face and body.
“Our prayers are with her, her family, and everyone who is affected by this unimaginable tragedy,” said Christopher Amon, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
According to the criminal complaint, investigators were able to determine that Reed filled a small container with gasoline at a Citgo Gas Station in the 3300 block of West Harrison Street about 20 minutes before the attack. He was captured on surveillance cameras wearing the same outfit he was wearing at the time of the attack, prosecutors said.
Officers with the Chicago Police Department took Reed into custody just before 11:30 a.m. Monday in the 100 block of West Washington Street, and on Wednesday, he was transferred into federal custody.
At the time he was taken into custody, officers observed fire-related injuries to Reed’s right hand and he was wearing the same clothes during the incident, according to federal prosecutors.
According to the criminal complaint, Reed made several spontaneous comments as he was being transported to CPD’s Area Four Detective Division.
“Burn (expletive)” and “burn alive (expletive)” he shouted, according to the charging document.
Reed appeared in court Wednesday afternoon and allegedly spit on federal agents while in lockup. His erratic behavior continued inside the court room.
After he was brought in the courtroom, with his mouth covered, the suspect immediately started shouting over U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally.
“I plead guilty! I plead guilty!” Reed repeated several times.
As McNally explained the process and purpose of the hearing, Reed continued to interrupt.
“I’m going to talk to you,” said McNally before Reed interjected and said, “Don’t talk to me.”
As she continued, Reed loudly shouted, “la-la-la-la.”
Reed told the court he will represent himself and he does not want counsel appointed to represent him.
“When you walked in here, I presumed you to be innocent of these charges,” McNally said.
“I’m guilty,” Reed responded.
As prosecutors attempted to read the charge filed against Reed, he continued to interrupt.
“Terrorist, is that my charge? You said terrorism is my charge?” asked Reed.
“Did you hear what he said to the maximum penalty?” McNally asked Reed, who responded, “It’s cool.”
Before Wednesday’s hearing ended, Reed, who law enforcement sources confirm was born in the United States, claimed to be a resident of China.
“I would like the Chinese consulate to be notified I’m here,” said Reed.
Reed is due back in court at 10 a.m. Friday for a hearing to determine whether he will be held in custody pending trial. In a post-hearing press conference, Boutros detailed the allegations and explained in further detail the charge against Reed.
“If death were to happen to the victim, we obviously pray and hope it does not, this would be a death-eligible case,” said Boutros.
Reed is no stranger to the Cook County criminal justice system, with arrests dating back to the mid-1990s for various charges including domestic battery and other batteries on public properties.
Police sources and arrest records confirm Reed had been arrested 71 times in Cook County prior to Tuesday’s arrest, and convicted in 13 of those cases.
He was on pretrial release for an aggravated battery charge, which court records show stemmed from an alleged assault in August on a social worker at MacNeal Hospital. The victim was hit so hard she lost consciousness, court records show.
Reed was also convicted in an April 2020 case of aggravated arson after he used gasoline to start a fire at the Thompson Center, located at 121 West Lake Street, court records show. According to court filings, he was sentenced to two years of mental health probation, which he completed by December 2023.
On Monday, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced police were investigating after someone attempted to set a fire at City Hall on the LaSalle Street side Friday night. Several police sources confirm Reed is a suspect in that case.
During Wednesday’s press conference, authorities referenced Reed’s criminal history, which they said would be detailed further during an upcoming detention hearing.
“Lawrence Reed had no business being on the streets given that his violent criminal history and pending criminal cases. 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,” Amon said. “Because of the swift action of CPD, ATF, and our law enforcement partners, there will be no other chances for Mr. Reed.”
The attack also caught the attention of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who wrote on social media, “This horrific attack is EXACTLY why we need communities to take safety seriously. Blue Cities cannot allow another Iryna Zarutska to happen.”
The full press conference held Wednesday afternoon can be found below: