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More Than $200,000 Raised for Chicago Train Fire Victim

Reed faces a federal terrorism count with detention ordered, prompting renewed scrutiny of transit safety and pretrial release.

Overview

  • The family of 26-year-old Bethany MaGee launched a GoFundMe that surpassed $200,000 within a day, with totals reported between roughly $216,000 and $230,000 toward a $330,000 goal.
  • MaGee remains hospitalized with severe burns after a Nov. 17 Blue Line attack in which a man poured liquid on her and set her on fire, according to surveillance-based charging documents.
  • Suspect Lawrence Reed, 50, is charged with committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system, is being held in federal custody, and faces a potential life sentence.
  • Prosecutors cited Reed’s extensive record, including 72 prior arrests, and court filings note a court-ordered mental and physical evaluation while the case proceeds; he was on pretrial release at the time of the attack.
  • National attention intensified after President Donald Trump highlighted the case and Reed’s arrest history, fueling broader debate over transit safety and pretrial supervision policies.