A shocking and deeply troubling attack aboard a Chicago L train has left 26-year-old Bethany MaGee in critical condition and the city demanding answers. The incident, which unfolded on the evening of Monday, November 17, has raised widespread concern about public transportation safety and the criminal justice system’s handling of repeat offenders. Authorities say the assailant, 50-year-old Lawrence Reed, has a long history of arrests and convictions, reigniting debate over whether current monitoring and release practices adequately protect the public.
According to investigators, MaGee was seated and focused on her phone when Reed approached her from behind. Surveillance footage captured the sudden and violent nature of the attack, which reportedly involved a flammable substance. Officials have withheld the most graphic portions of the video due to its disturbing content, but they confirm that the young woman suffered severe burn injuries. She was rushed to the hospital, where she remains in critical condition, prompting an outpouring of community concern and calls for justice.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed serious alarm regarding the circumstances surrounding the attack. He stated that passengers should not fear for their safety on public transit and emphasized that repeat offenders must be monitored more effectively. Reed’s criminal record shows a lengthy pattern of arrests for both felony and misdemeanor offenses. Earlier this year, he had been released with an ankle monitor on a separate charge despite prosecutors requesting that he remain in custody. Many officials now argue that such decisions place innocent people at risk.
Bystanders on the train attempted to react in the chaotic and terrifying moments that followed. When the train arrived at the next platform, witnesses immediately stepped in to help MaGee as she stumbled out of the railcar. Authorities have publicly thanked those individuals for their courage and quick thinking. Their swift response ensured MaGee received medical attention as soon as possible, even as the severity of her injuries became clear.
Additional surveillance footage obtained by investigators shows Reed purchasing gasoline earlier that evening, a detail now central to the case. During Reed’s court appearance on Wednesday, he entered a plea related to the incident. Federal and local officials have voiced frustration that an individual with a lengthy criminal history was released with limited supervision. ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Amon condemned the system’s oversight failures, stating that MaGee’s suffering illustrates the consequences of repeated leniency.
This attack follows another high-profile tragedy in Chicago involving a repeat offender, the killing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska earlier this year. Together, the incidents have intensified public scrutiny of pretrial release policies, criminal monitoring, and transit safety. As the investigation into MaGee’s attack continues, community leaders and transit officials are calling for urgent reforms. Support for MaGee is growing across the city, with many hoping she can recover from the devastating injuries she sustained.
