Woman was 'minding her business' when man allegedly set her on fire on CTA train: attorney
Suspect had already faced aggravated arson charges in separate 2020 case, CPD records show.
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A man described as having a long criminal history is facing a federal terrorism charge after allegedly setting a woman on fire on a CTA train in Chicago, court documents show.
Lawrence Reed, 50, was charged with executing an act of terrorism on a mass transportation system.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros said Reed has had plenty of second chances, until Wednesday.
Reed is accused of setting a 26-year-old woman on fire on Monday while riding the CTA Blue Line train. Police said he ran away when the train stopped at Clark and Lake. He was in custody by Tuesday evening.
He was arrested Tuesday in the 100-block of West Washington Street, Chicago police said.
On Wednesday, he walked into the courtroom with his face covered from the nose down.
He immediately began saying "I plead guilty. I plead guilty" multiple times, before insisting that he would represent himself.
A complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office shows CTA surveillance footage of a man approaching the victim, who had her back turned to him, with a bottle already ignited.
Reed is alleged to have approached his victim on the Blue Line train at about 9:26 p.m., before taking the cap off a bottle and pouring liquid over her head, then using that same bottle to set her on fire.
United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros said the victim was "minding her business" on her phone when the attack happened.
The attorney said that the previous narrative of the victim and Reed being involved in an argument was inaccurate.
"This young woman was on her phone, minding her business when Mr. Reed approached her and began throwing gasoline on her," Boutros said. "Perhaps people were afraid to get involved. But what we can say is, even as she was on the ground trying to put herself out, and is rolling on the ground desperately trying to put out the fire, no one came to aid until she was able to get on the platform, get off the train and to the platform and she she finally stumbled down, two [good] Samaritans came and put out all the blaze."
He said the attack was horrific and unprovoked.
CPD said the suspect also briefly lit himself on fire.
According to the complaint, Chicago police obtained video of Reed filing a small container with gasoline at a gas station just 20 minutes before the attack at 3357 W. Harrison St. in Garfield Park.
Reed was ordered to undergo a complete mental and physical evaluation before his detention hearing on Friday. That is when the judge will decide whether he is to remain incarcerated until his trial.
Until then, he remains in federal custody.
The U.S. Attorney's office said this federal charge is punishable by life sentence.
Investigators calling this latest alleged crime, a "disturbing" act of violence.
"Lawrence Reed had no business being on the streets, given his violent criminal history and his pending criminal cases," said Chris Amon, special agent in charge with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. "The charges made clear today: violence of any kind on the CTA rail system or in our city is unacceptable."
The 26-year old victim in this case remains in critical condition at Stroger Hospital.
Lawrence Reed's Criminal Record
Reed has an extensive record with the Chicago Police Department, according to public records.
His record dates back to 2017, including charges for aggravated arson in 2020, battery and criminal trespass, among other charges.
Boutros confirmed that Reed is the same person who in 2020 was charged with trying to set a fire outside the Thompson Center.
In 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of arson in that case. He was sentenced to 24 months of mental health probation and random drug testing by Judge Arthur Hill. His probation ended on Dec. 28, 2023.
Police sources told ABC7 Chicago that Reed is connected to a fire that broke out at City Hall on Friday.
READ ALSO | Chicago police investigating attempted arson at City Hall, Mayor Brandon Johnson says
A source said surveillance video shows a general similarity in appearance that has prompted detectives to obtain better video to see if it is, in fact, the same person.
The transit agency said in a statement, "The CTA has been working closely with the Chicago Police Department and the Public Transportation Unit detectives embedded at the Strategic Decision Support Center dedicated to CTA to support their investigation, which has now led to the arrest of a person of interest."
"As we do in all investigations, our hardworking Chicago Police Department members immediately responded and worked to apprehend this violent offender so he could not harm anyone else," CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling said in a statement. "Our police officers and detectives identified the offender and took him into custody in less than 24 hours. Their quick response is proof that heinous acts of violence like this will never be tolerated in our city. The men and women of CPD will always do everything within our power to hold violent offenders accountable."
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