Woman, 26, set on fire on Chicago subway by man, 50, a serial criminal

A 26-year-old American woman who was doused with gasoline and torched by a serial criminal on a Chicago L train on Nov. 17, remains in critical condition, reported the New York Post.

The violent attack was perpetrated by a "career criminal with 72 prior arrests" stated U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy on X. 

The incident happened abroad a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line train near Clark and Lake streets at around 9:25pm local time.

The victim, Bethany MaGee, remains in critical condition with severe burns to her body.

The attacker, Lawrence Reed, 50, had 22 prior arrests since 2016 alone.

The attack

According to onlookers, MaGee was seated with her back facing Reed on the Chicago train.

Reed proceeded to pour gasoline all over her head and body.

MaGee fled but Reed caught up with her and set her ablaze.

Engulfed in flames, MaGee somehow managed to leave the train before collapsing on the platform.

Witnesses stepped in to help and rushed her to the hospital, reported the New York Post.

20 minutes prior to the incident, Reed was caught on camera at a Chicago gas station purchasing gasoline, which he poured into a plastic bottle.

The attack has led to debates on public safety and criminal justice in America.

The assailant had 72 prior arrests

Reed has 53 criminal cases in Cook County, Chicago, Illinois, dating back to 1993.

Nine of which were felonies he pleaded guilty to.

He has only been jailed twice, totalling 2.5 years of time.

Based on court records reviewed by the New York Post, Reed was released in August from a psychiatric hospital with an electronic ankle monitor.

He had left a social worker at the institution with “likely optic nerve damage and a concussion, causing her to experience memory issues, headaches, and daily nausea”, after knocking her out cold.

Yelled that he was a 'Chinese citizen'

Reed's initial court appearance on Nov. 19, showcased his strange behaviour.

He would disrupt proceedings by "singing, babbling and instructing the court not to speak to him", wrote Boutros.

As reported by the New York Post, a judge attempted to read Reed his rights but Reed would repeatedly shout "I plead guilty" and yell that he was a Chinese citizen and wanted to represent himself.

Reed is now facing federal terrorism charges for the immolation.

If convicted he could face the death penalty.

In the same tweet, Duffy criticised the city's policy on "letting repeat offenders roam the streets."

Failure of Chicago's state court

At a hearing on Nov. 21, prosecutors requested for the court to keep Reed in custody, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros cited the failure of the state court system in the detention motion.

“The state court system has been unable to contain defendant’s violent crimes, and federal intervention is now needed.”

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Amon stated that Reed had plenty of second chances, reported the New York Post. 

“Lawrence Reed had no business being on the streets given his violent criminal history and his pending criminal cases,

Reed had plenty of second chances by the criminal justice system and as a result you have an innocent victim in the hospital fighting for her life.”

Parallels September attacks

The CTA immolation mirrors the murder of Iryna Zarutska, 23, a Ukrainian refugee who was brutally stabbed on a Blue Line train in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Both attacks were random and the victims did not know their attackers personally.

Zarutska's attacker was Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, a diagnosed schizophrenic with 20 years of violence and mental illness history.

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Top photo from Bethany MaGee/Facebook and Chicago PD.