(CHICAGO) — The offender prosecutors say is responsible for the aggravated arson of a 26-year-old female on a CTA Blue Line train has been federally charged.
Officials say on November 17 at approximately 9:25 p.m., Lawrence Reed, 50, approached a 26-year-old female victim on a moving Blue Line train. In an unprovoked attack, the offender poured a flammable liquid on the female victim. The offender, a convicted felon, attempted to light the victim on fire, but briefly lit himself on fire. As the victim attempted to flee to another area of the train, the offender followed and proceeded to light the victim on fire. When the train arrived at the Clark/Lake station, the offender fled the scene. The victim ran off the train and collapsed. Several bystanders came to her aid and extinguished the flames.
The victim was taken to the hospital, where she remains in critical condition.
“As we do in all investigations, our hardworking Chicago Police Department members immediately responded and worked to apprehend this violent offender so he could not harm anyone else,” said CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling. “Our police officers and detectives identified the offender and took him into custody in less than 24 hours. Their quick response is proof that heinous acts of violence like this will never be tolerated in our city. The men and women of CPD will always do everything within our power to hold violent offenders accountable.”
Officials say detectives discovered that, prior to the attack, the suspect visited a gas station and filled up a plastic bottle with gasoline. Detectives secured additional information to identify the offender. Utilizing this information, members of CPD’s Public Transportation Section Tactical Team located the offender the day after the attack in the 100 block of W. Washington St. At the time of his arrest, the offender was wearing the same clothing he was seen wearing on surveillance camera during the attack on the Blue Line. He also had burn injuries to his hands.
On November 19 the offender was transferred into the custody of the ATF Chicago Field Division and federally charged with a terrorist attack or other violence against a mass transportation system.
Reed has 22 prior arrests since 2016 and 53 criminal cases in Cook County dating back to 1993. He appears again in court on Friday.
