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A senseless act of violence unfolded on Chicago’s Blue Line train last Sunday evening, leaving 26-year-old Bethany MaGee fighting for her life after a repeat offender doused her with gasoline and set her on fire. The attack, captured on surveillance video, shows the perpetrator calmly watching as MaGee, engulfed in flames, rolled on the floor in a desperate attempt to extinguish the blaze. No passengers intervened during those critical moments aboard the train.
Federal prosecutors detailed the sequence in court: MaGee sat quietly, scrolling on her phone, when the assailant approached from behind around 9:30 p.m. on November 17. He poured gasoline over her head and body, then ignited it after she fled to the back of the car. Only after stumbling off the train at the Clark and Lake station did two bystanders finally help put out the fire. MaGee suffered extensive burns to her face and body and remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
The suspect, 50-year-old Lawrence Reed—also known as Marcus Reed—faces federal charges of committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system, which carries a potential life sentence.
During his initial court appearance, Reed blurted out, “I plead guilty, I plead guilty, I plead guilty,” and dismissed the prospect of life imprisonment with, “It’s cool, it’s cool, it’s cool.” Prosecutors revealed photos of Reed purchasing gasoline at a nearby station just 20 minutes before the assault, still wearing the same clothes seen in the attack footage.
Reed’s freedom at the time of the crime stems from a long pattern of leniency in Chicago’s justice system. With 72 prior arrests dating back to his late teens, Reed boasts eight felony convictions and seven misdemeanors. His rap sheet includes a 2020 aggravated arson charge for starting a fire at the Thompson Center during a gubernatorial briefing, as well as multiple assaults on strangers, such as punching women in the face at random and slapping a man on a CTA platform.
In August, he faced aggravated battery charges for attacking a woman at a psychiatric hospital, yet a judge released him on bond with only an ankle monitor—despite prosecutors’ pleas for detention. In 2021, Reed was convicted of another arson after pouring gasoline along a window ledge at the same Thompson Center.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who publicly identified MaGee as the victim, laid the blame squarely on the city’s approach to crime. “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,” Duffy posted on X. “This would never have happened if this thug had been behind bars. 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 lives on the subway.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Chris Amon echoed that sentiment after Reed’s hearing: “Reed had plenty of second chances from the criminal justice system, and as a result, you have an innocent victim in the hospital fighting for her life.” Amon praised the quick response from Chicago police and federal agents, adding, “There will be no other chances for Mr. Reed.”
This incident fits a troubling trend in Chicago, where policies allowing habitual offenders back onto the streets have drawn sharp criticism. Reed’s case exemplifies how such decisions endanger everyday riders on public transit, turning routine commutes into potential nightmares. Federal involvement here signals a push for stricter accountability, especially after Reed’s history of arson and violence went unchecked for decades.
MaGee, described by friends as a kind animal lover—often seen in photos cradling her cat—had no connection to Reed. The attack appears entirely random, fueling calls for reforms to prevent similar tragedies. As Reed awaits his detention hearing, questions linger about why someone with such a volatile record was allowed to walk free in the first place.
