Overview
- Charging documents say surveillance shows the suspect approach a seated woman, douse her with gasoline, and ignite her with a flaming bottle after buying fuel about 20 minutes earlier at a nearby station.
- The victim, 26, remains in critical condition at Stroger Hospital; officials said most passengers did not intervene on the train and two bystanders ultimately put out the flames on the platform.
- Investigators recovered a partially melted bottle, a lighter, and ignitable liquid; police say Lawrence Reed was arrested wearing the same clothes, had a burn on his hand, and possessed a CTA card used to board the Blue Line.
- Reed, 50, was taken into federal custody and charged with committing a terrorist attack on a mass transportation system, a count punishable by up to life in prison; he had a combative initial court appearance, with a detention hearing and mental health evaluation ordered.
- Officials and media reports cite Reed’s extensive prior arrests and pending cases, and investigators are reviewing a possible connection to a recent City Hall arson.