The victim of a horrifying attack on a Chicago L train earlier this month has been identified as 26-year-old Bethany MaGee. The alleged assailant, a man with a long criminal history, is accused of setting MaGee on fire. The incident has sparked outrage and criticism of Chicago’s criminal justice system, with US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressing his dismay on social media.
Duffy criticized Chicago’s approach to repeat offenders, specifically referring to the suspect, 50-year-old Lawrence Reed. Reed, who has been arrested 72 times previously, is now facing federal terrorism charges for the attack on MaGee. Duffy argued that the incident could have been prevented if Reed had been incarcerated.
The attack occurred on the evening of November 17, when Reed allegedly approached MaGee on the train. According to the criminal complaint, Reed uncapped a bottle of liquid and poured it over MaGee. When she attempted to flee, Reed reportedly caught up with her and set her on fire.
Despite being engulfed in flames, MaGee managed to exit the train and collapsed on the platform. Bystanders rushed to her aid and she was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Surveillance footage later revealed Reed purchasing gasoline at a local gas station, which he allegedly put into a plastic bottle, just 20 minutes prior to the attack.
Reed was arrested the following day and charged with federal terrorism offenses. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. Reed’s criminal history includes 22 arrests since 2016 and 53 criminal cases in Cook County since 1993, nine of which were felonies to which he pleaded guilty.
Despite his extensive criminal record, Reed has only served two and a half years in prison. In August, he was released with an electronic ankle monitor after assaulting a social worker at a psychiatric hospital where he had been committed. Despite prosecutors’ requests to keep Reed in custody, a judge overruled them, leaving him free for much of the week.
During a court hearing, prosecutors argued for Reed’s continued detention, citing his clear danger and persistent threat to the community. US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Andrew Boutros, stated that federal intervention was now necessary due to the state court system’s inability to contain Reed’s violent crimes.
Reed’s erratic behavior was evident during his initial court appearance, where he frequently disrupted proceedings by singing, babbling, and instructing the court not to speak to him. He also attempted to interrupt the proceedings by repeatedly shouting “I plead guilty!” and claiming he was a Chinese citizen who wanted to represent himself.
The incident has drawn comparisons to a brutal knife attack on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina in August, where 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska was killed by a man with a history of violence and mental illness.