A career criminal with 72 prior arrests is now accused of setting a young woman on fire aboard a Chicago train, exposing the deadly consequences of local criminal justice failures.
Story Snapshot
- 26-year-old Bethany MaGee was attacked and set on fire on a Chicago Blue Line train by Lawrence Reed, who had 72 prior arrests.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy condemned Chicago’s criminal justice system, calling it “careless” and stating the attack could have been prevented.
- The incident is classified as federal terrorism, and Reed has pleaded guilty.
- MaGee remains hospitalized in critical condition, while Reed’s criminal history highlights systemic failures in repeat offender management.
- Experts and federal officials warn that lax bail and sentencing policies put innocent Americans at risk.
Chicago Train Attack: A Preventable Tragedy
On November 17, 2025, Bethany MaGee, a 26-year-old woman, was attacked on a Chicago Blue Line train at the Clark/Lake station. Lawrence Reed, a 50-year-old man with 72 prior arrests, approached MaGee from behind, doused her with gasoline, and set her on fire.
Security footage captured the entire incident, which occurred during evening hours when the train was stopped at the station. MaGee was rushed to the hospital with severe burns to her head and body and remains in critical condition as of November 22. Reed has since pleaded guilty before a federal judge, and the case is being prosecuted as an act of terrorism.
This attack is not an isolated incident. Just three months earlier, another violent crime occurred on Chicago’s transit system when Iryna Zarutska was stabbed to death by a suspect with 14 prior arrests. These repeated tragedies underscore a pattern of dangerous repeat offenders being released back onto the streets, despite their extensive criminal histories.
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and local officials have faced mounting criticism for their handling of public safety and criminal justice, with federal authorities now stepping in to highlight the failures.
Federal Officials Sound Alarm on Repeat Offenders
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy publicly identified MaGee as the victim and sharply criticized Chicago’s criminal justice system. “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 stated.
“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 life on the subway.”
ATF special agent-in-charge Christopher Amon echoed Duffy’s concerns, noting that Reed “had no business being on the streets given his violent criminal history and his pending criminal cases.”
Amon emphasized that Reed had been given “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.” These statements reflect a growing frustration among federal officials with local policies that allow repeat offenders to remain free despite posing a clear threat to public safety.
Systemic Failures and National Implications
The MaGee attack has sparked a national debate about bail reform, incarceration policies, and the management of repeat offenders. The federal terrorism classification elevates the case beyond typical local prosecution, signaling that the federal government is willing to intervene when local systems fail to protect citizens.
The incident has also raised concerns about the broader impact on transit safety, with riders across the country questioning whether their own communities are at risk.
Experts warn that the current approach to criminal justice in cities like Chicago undermines public safety and erodes trust in the system. The pattern of violent crimes committed by repeat offenders suggests that bail and sentencing policies need to be reevaluated to prevent future tragedies.
As the investigation continues, the case may serve as a catalyst for policy changes at both the local and national levels, with federal officials pushing for stricter measures to keep dangerous individuals off the streets.
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
The MaGee attack is a stark reminder of the real-world consequences of criminal justice failures. As the nation watches MaGee’s recovery and the prosecution of Reed, the focus will remain on how to prevent such tragedies in the future and ensure that repeat offenders are held accountable for their actions.
Sources:
2025 Chicago train attack – Wikipedia
Victim lit on fire in horrifying Chicago train attack – WJAC
Victim lit on fire in horrifying Chicago train attack – WCTI
Victim lit on fire in horrifying Chicago train attack – KRCG
