A Chicago man has been charged with a federal terrorism offense after allegedly setting a passenger on fire aboard a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train earlier this week. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois announced the charges on November 19, 2025.
Lawrence Reed, 50, faces one count of committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system. If convicted, he could receive a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Reed is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura K. McNally in federal court.
According to the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court, the incident occurred around 9:00 p.m. on November 17 as the CTA train traveled through downtown Chicago’s subway system. The complaint states that Reed approached the victim from behind, removed the cap from a bottle containing liquid, and poured it over her head and body. When the victim tried to escape, Reed pursued her and ignited the bottle; after it fell to the floor and caught fire, he picked it up again and used it to set her alight.
The victim managed to exit the train but suffered critical injuries and remains hospitalized.
Investigators determined that approximately 20 minutes before the attack, Reed purchased gasoline at a local gas station and filled it into a hand-held container.
Reed was arrested by Chicago Police officers on November 18 and transferred into federal custody today.
U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros made the announcement alongside Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of ATF’s Chicago Field Division; Larry Snelling, Superintendent of Chicago Police Department; with assistance from CTA officials. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron R. Bond and Ronald L. DeWald are prosecuting the case.
“This horrific attack was not just a barbaric assault on an innocent woman riding a train, but an act of terrorism that strikes at the core of our American way of life,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago, together with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, will take immediate and resolute action to bring swift justice to the victim while safeguarding the public as well as the fabric of our society.”
Authorities emphasized that criminal complaints are not evidence of guilt; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
