A Quiet Commute Before the Horror
At around 8 p.m. on November 17, 26 year old Bethany MaGee was riding a train on the Chicago “L”.
She sat by the window with her headphones on, a white backpack resting against her side.
Like many passengers, she was quietly scrolling through her phone.
Several meters away, a man in his fifties stood nearby.
He wore a hooded sweatshirt and stared at MaGee without blinking.
For several minutes, he did nothing else.
MaGee noticed nothing unusual.
A Sudden and Unprovoked Attack
Without warning, the man stood up.
In his right hand, he carried an open bottle.
In his left, a lighter.
He walked directly behind MaGee and poured the liquid over her head. 
It soaked her hair, face, upper body, and legs in seconds.
The sharp smell of gasoline filled the train car.
Startled awake by the attack, MaGee screamed and tried to flee.
But the fuel beneath her feet caused her to slip and lose balance.
Fire Erupts Inside the Train
The attacker stepped closer and flicked the lighter.
At first, the flame was too weak.
Only a few sparks appeared on MaGee’s hair and shoulder.
He then poured the remaining gasoline onto the floor near her feet, forming a large puddle.
When he ignited it again, the fire exploded.
Flames raced up MaGee’s body almost instantly.
She became engulfed in orange fire and ran through the train screaming in pain.
As she ran, she tore at her burning clothes and staggered toward the platform.
Two bystanders rushed forward and helped put out the flames.
Firefighters and emergency responders arrived moments later.
After several terrifying seconds, the fire was finally extinguished.
MaGee was rushed to a local hospital, still in critical condition.
Severe burn injuries covered more than eighty percent of her body.
The Attacker Watches Without Emotion
Throughout the attack, the man never moved.
He stood calmly and watched MaGee burn.
Police arrested him shortly after the incident.
His name was Lawrence Reed.
Investigators revealed that about thirty minutes earlier, Reed had purchased 7.5 liters of gasoline at a gas station.
He poured it into bottles and boarded the same subway line.
When MaGee entered the train alone, he selected her as his target.
The entire assault lasted less than forty seconds.
There was no argument.
There was no warning.
The attack was random and deliberate.
“I Just Wanted to See Her Burn”
When questioned by police, Reed showed no remorse.
His answer was chilling: “I just wanted to see her burn.”
On November 19, Reed appeared in court.
He repeatedly interrupted the judge and shouted that he was guilty.
He also claimed to be a Chinese citizen and demanded that the Chinese consulate be notified.
Court officials later confirmed the claim was false.
Reed was born and raised in the United States.
The court described him as suffering from delusions and violent impulses.
Prosecutors charged him under terrorism related statutes, elevating the case to a federal felony level.
At this stage, Reed faces the possibility of life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
A Criminal History That Shocked the Public
At first, the legal response appeared decisive.
Then journalists uncovered a disturbing truth.
Before attacking MaGee, Reed had been arrested seventy two times.
Many of those arrests involved violent behavior.
Since 2016 alone, he had been arrested twenty two times.
Nine of those cases were classified as felonies.
His criminal record dates back to 1993.
Despite more than seventy arrests, Reed had spent only two and a half years in prison in total.
Judges repeatedly released him, giving him another opportunity to harm someone.
A Preventable Tragedy
In August of this year, Reed was forcibly committed to a psychiatric hospital.
While there, he attacked a social worker and knocked the victim unconscious.
The assault caused permanent optic nerve damage and a concussion.
The victim suffered lasting memory loss, headaches, and nausea.
Prosecutors requested that Reed remain detained.
A judge denied the request.
Three months later, MaGee was set on fire.
A System Under Scrutiny
MaGee’s family now waits anxiously by her side.
She remains in critical condition and has not yet escaped danger.
One attorney publicly expressed anger at the outcome.
He said the justice system had countless chances to stop Reed.
Instead, it allowed him to repeatedly harm innocent people.
Next month, Reed will return to court for another psychiatric evaluation.
Whether he will finally face permanent confinement, or once again evade lasting punishment, remains uncertain.
