Overview
- U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally ordered Lawrence Reed, 50, held pending trial and directed mental and physical evaluations as he declined counsel and chose to represent himself.
- Reed faces a federal count for a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system, a charge that carries a potential life sentence, with prosecutors noting a death‑penalty review could follow if the victim dies.
- Prosecutors say CTA and platform cameras captured the assault, and an ATF affidavit shows Reed filled a small container with gasoline about 20–30 minutes before the attack; investigators recovered a melted bottle and a lighter.
- The 26-year-old victim remains hospitalized in critical condition with severe burns at Stroger Hospital, and her family thanked well-wishers while requesting privacy.
- Court records show Reed was on pretrial release in an aggravated battery case and repeatedly violated curfew in the days before the attack, fueling questions about electronic monitoring and supervision practices as officials assess accountability.