A woman attacked and set on fire aboard a CTA train in the Loop did not engage in an altercation with the suspect prior to the assault, officials now believe.
Originally, it was reported that the 26-year-old woman, who was doused in flammable liquid and set ablaze on Monday night onboard a CTA Blue Line train, was involved in a verbal altercation with a suspect prior to the attack.
In new charging documents released Wednesday, it was instead revealed via surveillance footage that the attack appeared to be random in nature, and that no altercation took place.
“We’ve watched the video and different angles of the video. And what we could say is this young woman was on her phone, going through her phone, minding her business, when (the suspect) approached her and began throwing gasoline on her,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros said during a Wednesday press conference. “I’ve seen reports that there was an altercation or that there was some kind of disagreement or argument that took place. Those statements are inaccurate and false.”
Lawrence Reed, 50, has now been charged with a federal count of committing a terrorist attack on a mass transit system, and faces life in prison if convicted in the case.
He is accused of dousing a 26-year-old woman in gasoline, and ultimately setting her on fire while she rode on a CTA Blue Line train on Monday night.
The woman was able to exit the train at the Clark/Lake stop, and two bystanders helped to extinguish the flames.
Still, Boutros said surveillance footage showed individuals on the train who did not come to the woman’s aid.
“There were other people who were on the train, other people who saw what was occurring,” he said. “And I can appreciate that. I’m sure people were afraid. I’m sure that people did not want to get involved. Perhaps people were afraid to get involved. But what we could say is even as she was on the ground trying to put herself out and is rolling on the ground, desperately trying to put out the fire. No one came to her aid until she was able to get off the train and to the platform, and when she finally stumbled down, two Samaritans came and put out the blaze that was all consuming her.”
Surveillance footage from the train showed the woman sitting inside a car, and Reed seated on the opposite side of the train.
At some point he allegedly got up and approached her. He then poured the liquid on her and attempted to ignite the liquid. She fought him off and ran to the front of the train. He then ignited the bottle and dropped it on the floor.
Reed picked up the bottle, approached her and lit her on fire.
The woman got off the train at Clark and Lake. Reed exited the train car and walked away. Bystanders were able to help put the fire out, and paramedics rushed her to a nearby hospital.
According to surveillance footage obtained during the investigation, Chicago police believe Reed filled the bottle with gasoline at a gas station in the 3300 block of West Harrison, approximately 20 minutes before the attack. He was seen boarding the train at Kedzie and Congress shortly thereafter, police said.
When Reed was taken into custody on Tuesday morning, police allege he was wearing the same clothing he had been shown wearing on the surveillance footage. He also had a burn wound on his right hand, and had in his possession a CTA card that had allowed him access to the Blue Line train at Kedzie and Congress on Monday night, the charging document said.
During a court hearing Wednesday, the suspect was combative with the judge and attorneys in the court room, turning down the offer of counsel.
He will face a detention hearing Friday, and will also undergo a mental health evaluation after several courtroom outbursts, according to the judge in the case.
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