A 26-year-old woman is fighting for her life after a man with more than 70 arrests doused her in gasoline and set her ablaze in an unprovoked attack on a Chicago train.
The victim has been identified as Bethany MaGee, who reportedly remains in critical condition. Lawrence Reed, 50, has been charged with a federal terrorism offense in connection to the attack and is facing life in prison.
Video shows the suspect dousing MaGee in gasoline and chasing her on the train car before setting her ablaze on November 17. Reed, who’s been arrested 72 times, allegedly shouted “burn alive b****” and “burn b****” during the attack.
“According to a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Reed and the victim were passengers on a CTA train traveling through a subway in downtown Chicago at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Nov. 17, 2025,” a Department of Justice press release says. “Reed approached the victim, who was seated with her back towards him, took the cap off a bottle of liquid and poured the liquid all over the victim’s head and body, the complaint states. The victim ran but Reed caught up with her, at which point he ignited the bottle and it fell out of his hand onto the floor, the complaint states. Reed picked up the bottle that was now on fire, approached the victim and used the bottle to light her on fire, the complaint states.”
Chicago Transit Authority surveillance footage
The disturbing unprovoked attack is reminiscent of the attack on Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, 23, who was targeted by a career criminal while riding a train in Charlotte, North Carolina. Zarutska, like MaGee, was targeted without ever interacting with her attacker. Both suspects have lengthy rap sheets. Zarutska, who tragically died from her injuries, was attacked back in August.
Reed’s criminal history includes eight felony and seven misdemeanor convictions, according to the Associated Press. Reed’s arrests concern arson, assault and battery, and other offenses.
At the time of his most recent attack, Reed was ordered to wear electronic monitoring due an aggravated battery charge accusing him of hitting a social worker. Cook County prosecutors wanted to keep Reed behind bars until his trial, but the judge released him.
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Notably, Reed pleaded guilty to smashing windows on a Blue Line train at O’Hare International Airport in 2020, but the Chicago Transit Authority never banned him from the transit system.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reacted to the crime on Sunday, posting to X, “It is devastating that a career criminal with 72 PRIOR ARRESTS is now accused of attacking 26-year-old Bethany MaGee on Chicago’s L train, and setting her on fire.”
“This would never have happened if this thug had been behind bars,” Duffy added. “Yet Chicago lets repeat offenders roam the streets. Chicago’s carelessness is putting the American people at risk. No one should ever have to fear for their life on the subway.”
It is devastating that a career criminal with 72 PRIOR ARRESTS is now accused of attacking 26-year-old Bethany MaGee on Chicago’s L train, and setting her on fire.
This would never have happened if this thug had been behind bars. Yet Chicago lets repeat offenders roam the… https://t.co/1vaHyCd8sp
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) November 23, 2025
As highlighted by The Daily Wire, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, has not commented on the attack.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, also a Democrat, called the attack an “isolated incident” and largely blamed it on a supposed lack of funding for “mental health” in the city.
“He was clearly seriously mentally disturbed, and was a danger to himself and to others,” Johnson said. “The system that we had failed to intervene, and now we have a woman who is fighting for her life.”
“There are a number of people who are suffering severely from trauma and mental illness and it’s becoming increasingly more dangerous,” the mayor added, while urging more mental health funding.
MaGee’s family released a statement earlier this week, thanking the public for their prayers.
“We would like to thank everyone for their prayers and well-wishes as our daughter receives care for injuries sustained earlier this week,” the statement said. “We are also grateful for the excellent care and support of the burn team at Stroger Hospital.”
Related: Still No Response From JB Pritzker After Insane Stretch Of Deadly Violence In Chicago
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