BREAKING: Suspect identified, faces terrorism charge after allegedly setting woman on fire on CTA train

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From NBC Chicago: A suspect who allegedly poured a flammable liquid on a 26-year-old woman and set her on fire onboard a CTA train this week is now facing federal terrorism charges.

According to charging documents filed in the U.S. District Court’s Northern District of Illinois, 50-year-old Lawrence Reed is being charged with a federal count of committing a terrorist attack on a mass transit system.

He is accused of setting a 26-year-old woman on fire as she rode on a CTA Blue Line train in the Loop on Monday night, with the woman hospitalized in critical condition due to the severe injuries she suffered.

According to the charging document, Chicago police were called to the Clark/Lake train stop just before 9:30 p.m. Monday for reports of a woman who had been on fire at the location. When they arrived, they found that victim, who had suffered severe burns to her face and body.

The report explains that, based on surveillance footage from the train, Reed was seated on the opposite side of the train from the 26-year-old victim. At some point, he got up, approached her from behind, removed the cap from a bottle and poured the liquid over the young woman’s head and body.

She fought him off and tried to run toward the front of the train, but he caught up with her and then set her on fire. She managed to stumble off the train when it stopped, then collapsed on the platform, while bystanders help put out the fire.

The woman was rushed to the hospital and is in critical condition with severe burns.

Chicago police reportedly believe Reed filled the bottle with gasoline at a gas station, just about 20 minutes prior to the gruesome attack, and before he boarded the train.

When police arrested him hours later, on Tuesday morning, he was still wearing the same clothing that he was seen wearing in the surveillance footage. He also still possessed the CTA boarding pass that had allowed him to get on the train, and had a burn wound on his right hand.

According to the criminal complaint, while being taken to the police headquarters, Reed was yelling “Burn bitch” and “burn alive, bitch!”

ATF Chicago announced on X, “ATF has taken Lawrence Reed into federal custody in connection with the attack that occurred near the Clark and Lake CTA station on Monday evening. More information forthcoming via @NDILnews.”

Chicago Tribune reporter Jason Meisner shared details from a court appearance, and quoted U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros as saying in a statement: “This horrific attack was not just a barbaric assault on an innocent woman riding a train, but an act of terrorism that strikes at the core of our American way of life.”

Reed is led into court in handcuffs with a T-shirt or towel wrapped around his face.
He immediately starts shouting “I PLEAD GUILTY!!!! I PLEAD GUILTY!!!”

Now he says “Don’t talk to me” and starts singing “lalalalala” over Judge McNally’s voice.

Reed shouting “I’m gonna be my own attorney!” over and over.
Judge McNally reminds him he has the right to remain silent.
Reed then looks over at standby counsel and says, “I’ll talk to you later.”

Government seeking detention based on a danger to the community and saying the maximum penalty is life in prison.
“What’s my charge?” Reed shouts.

After one of the prosecutor gets up to whisper to one of the agents, Reed shouts, “Who is this guy?”
He’s an assistant United States attorney, judge says.
“I don’t want him representing me,” Reed says.

Prosecutor reads aloud the charge. Reed shoots his head back:
“Terrorist attack? Terrorist attack? Terrorism? Is that my charge? You said terrorism is my charge?”
McNally confirms.
“It’s cool, its cool,” Reed says over and over. “It’s cool, its cool it’s cool, its cool.”

After Reed repeats again, “I will represent myself,” Judge McNally tells him:
“I understand…I have no ambiguity coming from you.”
Reed says he’s a citizen of China and wants the Chinese consulate notified he’s been arrested.
McNally says… alrighty.

As the hearing is adjourned, McNally says Reed should obtain a mental evaluation
Reed nods vigorously.

NOTE: No evidence has been presented that Reed is actually a “citizen of China.”

READ MORE from NBC Chicago.

It was also reported Wednesday that Reed has an extensive criminal record, including 22 arrests since 2016, but was repeatedly turned back out onto the streets.

UPDATE: Maddening details released on suspect accused of setting woman on fire on train

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