A 26-year-old Indiana woman is fighting for her life after a stranger doused her with gasoline and set her ablaze on a Chicago metro train in an unprovoked attack.
Bethany MaGee suffered burns to 60 percent of her body when she was attacked on the city’s Blue Line on Monday night. She is described as an animal lover and churchgoer who maintains close ties with her family, according to her social media profiles.
She managed to escape the train car and survived the assault, however, despite her horrific injuries.
The suspect police identified as her attacker is 50-year-old Lawrence Reed, a serial criminal with 72 prior arrests who was freed just months earlier by a judge despite allegedly attacking a social worker.
The case has drawn comparisons to the killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Aug. 22. “This horrific attack is EXACTLY why we need communities to take safety seriously. Blue cities cannot allow another Iryna Zarutska to happen,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on X.
MaGee is now seriously ill in the hospital with her family by her side.
She suffered the most severe burns on her left arm and hand, according to an update from her church community.
She underwent surgery earlier this week and faces at least three months in the hospital for treatment and rehabilitation.
Duffy publicly identified the victim on Sunday.
He wrote in a statement, “It is devastating that a career criminal with 72 PRIOR ARRESTS is now accused of attacking 26-year-old Bethany MaGee on Chicago’s L train, and setting her on fire. This would never have happened if this thug had been behind bars.”
“Yet Chicago lets repeat offenders roam the streets. Chicago’s carelessness is putting the American people at risk. No one should ever have to fear for their life on the subway.”
Reed approached MaGee and repeatedly yelled “burn alive b***h,” according to a criminal affidavit filed in federal court.
MaGee ran to the front of the train car to escape before her attacker allegedly ignited the bottle in his hand.
Reed then allegedly moved to the front of the train car and watched his victim as her body was “engulfed in flames.”
US Attorney Andrew Boutros confirmed on Wednesday that the attack was completely random.
“We’ve watched the video and different angles of the video. And what we could say is this young woman was on her phone, going through her phone, minding her business, when [Reed] approached her and began throwing gasoline on her,” Boutros said at a press conference.
“I’ve seen reports that there was an altercation or that there was some kind of disagreement or argument that took place. Those statements are inaccurate and false.”
