A judge ordered the suspect detained as investigators detail surveillance video and seized evidence.
CHICAGO — Federal prosecutors charged 50-year-old Lawrence Reed with committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system after a woman was set on fire aboard a Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line train on Nov. 17; a judge ordered him held pending trial.
The allegation centers on what authorities describe as a sudden, unprovoked assault captured on train cameras near the Clark/Lake station in the Loop around 9:25 p.m. Prosecutors said the setting — an operating passenger train — placed the incident within a federal statute designed to protect buses, subways and rail systems from violent acts. The charge came two days after the attack as detectives gathered video, recovered a melted container and a lighter from the car, and traced transit card activity linked to the suspect. The victim, a 26-year-old woman, remained hospitalized in critical condition as the case moved into federal court.
According to a criminal complaint, surveillance footage shows a man walking from the rear of the car toward a seated passenger, pouring a liquid on her head and body and then attempting to light it. The train doors opened at Clark/Lake. As the victim fled to another part of the car, the man picked up a flaming container and reapproached her, igniting her clothing. Witnesses said the woman collapsed on the platform still on fire before bystanders and responders extinguished the flames. “I saw people yelling for help and someone taking off a jacket to smother it,” said one commuter who was waiting for a transfer.
Investigators said additional security video from a Citgo station on West Harrison Street shows a man wearing the same clothing paying at a counter and filling a small bottle with gasoline roughly 20 minutes before the attack. Records indicate a Blue Line entry minutes later at Kedzie and Congress. Police arrested Reed the next day near Washington Street; officers noted burns on his right hand. In transport, an officer’s body camera recorded vulgar statements referencing the fire, according to the complaint. Authorities said there is no evidence the suspect knew the victim.
The Blue Line reopened for regular service early Tuesday after crime scene technicians documented the car and collected debris. Transit officials said they are reviewing the timeline and coordination with police and fire personnel, standard after a major incident. City leaders condemned the attack and said they would monitor the federal proceeding. The station, one of the busiest in the system, connects multiple rail lines and bus routes that funnel commuters through downtown.
At a detention hearing Friday, prosecutors argued that the combination of planning, the use of accelerant and the public setting showed the suspect posed an ongoing risk. The judge agreed and kept him in custody. A preliminary hearing and potential grand jury review are expected in the coming days. The charge carries a possible multi-decade sentence. Prosecutors said they will consult with the victim’s family regarding any future plea discussions and court schedules.
Commuters returning to Clark/Lake this week described a heavier police presence and security announcements. “People were quiet on the platform,” said Kiana Harris, who rides to work from the West Side. “Everyone saw the scorch marks and just stared.” Outside the hospital, relatives thanked passersby who intervened and said the victim faces a long recovery.
As of Monday afternoon, the victim remained in critical condition. Reed remains detained, with the next hearing expected later this week as investigators continue to collect witness statements and finalize lab analyses of the fuel and debris.
Author note: Last updated 2025-11-25.