The man accused of setting a woman on fire aboard a Blue Line train this week spontaneously yelled “Burn b****!” and “Burn alive b****!” following his arrest on Tuesday morning, according to a newly filed federal criminal complaint.
Lawrence Reed, 50, has been federally charged with a terrorist attack or other violence against a mass transportation system.
The filing released Wednesday morning also details a critical failure in the local court system: Reed was on pretrial release for allegedly knocking a psychiatric ward social worker unconscious just months before the subway attack.
The Attack and the Fire
Federal agents described the horrifying attack on the 26-year-old victim using CTA surveillance video. The sequence began when Reed was recorded at a West Side gas station filling a container with gasoline about 20 minutes before the incident.
At 9:24 p.m. Monday, cameras captured Reed approaching the victim, who was sitting alone, and pouring the liquid over her head and body. When the victim fought him off, Reed ignited the bottle itself and then used the burning bottle to set the woman on fire.
The train reached the Clark and Lake platform moments later.
Investigators noted the victim exited the train while still engulfed in flames and collapsed on the platform, where bystanders rushed to help her.
A source indicated that no passengers inside the train car intervened or assisted the victim as she burned. The victim remains in critical condition with severe burns to her face and body.
Spontaneous Outburst During Arrest
Reed was arrested Tuesday morning near 140 West Washington Street after officers identified him by the distinct clothing seen on both the train and gas station videos.
During the ride to the police division, body-worn camera recordings captured Reed repeatedly and spontaneously yelling the phrases “Burn b****” and “burn alive b****,” confirming the malice of the attack.
Police also noted visible fire injuries on Reed’s right hand.
Systemic Failure: Pretrial Release History
The federal charge elevates the case, but court records reveal that the suspect was previously failed by the local justice system:
- Prior Arson: In 2020, Reed pleaded guilty to arson after setting fire outside the Thompson Center (coincidentally located beneath the Clark-Lake station) because he had not received a Social Security check. He was given two years of “mental health probation,” which was later deemed “satisfactory” despite multiple misdemeanor arrests, including two for battery, that were eventually dropped by prosecutors.
- Aggravated Battery: On August 19, Reed was charged with aggravated battery for allegedly knocking a female social worker unconscious at a psychiatric facility. Despite the serious nature of the attack, which caused the victim severe pain and memory issues, Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez released Reed on electronic monitoring instead of ordering detention.
The electronic monitoring order would have barred Reed from the CTA and required him to be home at the time of the Blue Line attack, indicating he violated the terms of his release prior to the arson. The aggravated battery case remains pending in the local court system.
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