National News
Chicago Blue Line fire attack suspect detained before trial by judge
NEWNow you can hearken to Fox Information articles!
The suspect federally charged after allegedly setting a younger girl on fireplace on a Chicago Blue Line practice this week has been ordered by a choose to stay in custody forward of his trial.
Lawrence Reed, 50, is charged with committing a terrorist assault or violence in opposition to a mass transportation system. Federal prosecutors mentioned Reed deliberately used gasoline and a lighter to set the lady on fireplace Monday round 9:30 p.m.
“He is just too harmful for pretrial launch,” federal prosecutors wrote in a court docket doc obtained by Fox Information forward of Reed’s listening to on Friday.
“The suspect’s actions and felony historical past, as proven under, exhibit that he poses a critical hazard to everybody locally,” the submitting mentioned. “The state’s justice system has didn’t include the suspect’s violent crimes, and now federal intervention is required.
“EXPECTED BLUE CITY WITH NUMEROUS PREVIOUS ARRESTS, FEDERALLY IMPOSED AFTER ACCUSED SETTING WOMAN ON FIRE ON TRAIN
Lawrence Reed, 50, is charged with committing a terrorist assault or different violence in opposition to a mass transit system, the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace within the Northern District of Illinois mentioned in a press release. (Chicago Police Division; U.S. District Court docket)
Choose Laura McNally in the end ordered Reed remanded in custody, citing his felony historical past, the seriousness of the costs and the hazard he poses to the group.
Throughout Friday’s listening to, Reed — showing in a jail jumpsuit and handcuffs — advised the choose, “I will signify myself.”
Prosecutors described the alleged habits as “heinous and wicked,” saying Sufferer A was merely “minding her personal enterprise” when Reed set her on fireplace. As surveillance footage was proven within the courtroom, Reed shook his head, grinned and at one level winked at obvious members of the family within the gallery.
PERSON OF INTEREST IN CHICAGO IN TRAIN FIRE ATTACK HAS 22 PRIOR ARRESTS, WAS RELEASED BY JUDGE: REPORT
Prepare footage exhibits Reed arising behind the lady and pouring the liquid over her head and physique. (US court docket paperwork)
Federal prosecutors say Reed has been arrested at the least 72 instances over the previous three a long time, in keeping with Chicago police data.
“No less than 15 of these arrests have occurred since 2016, with the latest in August 2025. He has roughly 15 convictions, eight of that are for crimes together with arson, felony injury to government-supported property valued at greater than $500, drug trafficking, drug possession and a site visitors offense,” the submitting mentioned.
Throughout Monday’s alleged assault, Reed “was charged within the Circuit Court docket of Cook dinner County with aggravated battery inflicting nice bodily hurt after allegedly putting an individual within the head or face with an open hand whereas at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Illinois,” in keeping with the submitting.
“Defendant poses a transparent hazard and a persistent risk of terror to the group. Defendant has been handled leniently in state court docket, together with receiving probation sentences for violent crimes and pretrial launch for a criminal offense involving the sufferer. In alternate for such lenient remedy, Defendant has persistently reoffended and delved additional into crime,” the report mentioned. “Simply three months in the past, the suspect bodily assaulted somebody at MacNeil Hospital, however a choose launched him pending trial. Undeterred, the suspect set Sufferer A on fireplace on Monday.”
In response to federal prosecutors, Lawrence Reed was allegedly sporting the identical clothes because the suspect seen in surveillance footage of a 26-year-old girl being set on fireplace when authorities confronted him a day later. (US District Court docket)
When given an opportunity to talk Friday, Reed mentioned he agreed with the federal government’s request for detention, repeatedly telling the choose, “It is for my security.” I do not really feel secure on the market… I do not really feel secure from society… I am a goal of society.’
Choose McNally ordered him held, citing his historical past, the energy of the proof and the danger to the group. She additionally ordered a psychological analysis after Reed advised the court docket he had not been taking his treatment.
Because the listening to ended, Reed advised the choose, “Simply be certain I eat… If you wish to attempt me, it’s a must to feed me.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The choose didn’t explicitly point out the following listening to date throughout the listening to.
Fox Information’ Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.