#BREAKING: Lawrence Reed, 50, is charged with terrorist attack against a mass transportation system. He’s the suspect accused of dousing a 26-year-old woman with a suspected ignitable liquid and lighting her on fire as she tried to get away on a CTA Blue Line train. @WGNNews 
According to police sources, Reed has been arrested 71 times in Cook County and convicted in 13 of those cases. He was on pretrial release in a case where he’s accused of aggravated battery on an employee at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn. His arrests date back to the mid-90s.
Reed was found guilty in 2020 for setting fire to a building at 121 West Lake — the same area where CPD officers responded to Monday night. His probation was terminated satisfactorily in 2023, court records show.
Reed will face a judge in federal court at 2:30. I’m told he was taken into custody at CPD Area Four by the Feds earlier this afternoon
We’re standing by for the hearing to begin. We can hear a man who appears to be shouting in the lockup next to the courtroom.
Before Reed came in it appears he had been spitting on agents. He has a covering over his mouth. He has yelled “I plead guilty” at least 8 times while in the courtroom. “That’s what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna get it over with today,” Reed said.
Magistrate Judge Laura McNally: “When you walked in here, I presumed you to be innocent of these charges.”
Reed: “I’m guilty.”
Reed says he does not want counsel, asks them to terminate it.
Reed: “I’m guilty.”
Reed says he does not want counsel, asks them to terminate it.
#ICYMI: I’ve broken down the allegations against Reed, what happened in court today, and the suspect’s criminal history, including a prior arson case he was involved in back in 2020 at the Thompson Center. @WGNNews wgntv.com/news/chicago-n…
@WGNNews I have not seen the surveillance or BWC videos myself, however several LE sources have told me it is among the most difficult they’ve watched. The victim is still fighting for her life and has burn injuries to various parts of her body.
@WGNNews The federal terrorism charge Reed faces carries a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, if convicted.
“If death were to happen to the victim, we obviously pray and hope it does not, this would be a death-eligible case,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros.
“If death were to happen to the victim, we obviously pray and hope it does not, this would be a death-eligible case,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros.
I see reports out there with varying # of arrests.
To explain: some folks are likely going off county court records — which show ~50 cases filed against Reed. Others may be referencing CPD-specific *arrests. The 71 figure, confirmed via LE sources and a report I’ve reviewed (which cross-references a variety of identifiers and displays total arrests), is not specific to one agency or city.
To explain: some folks are likely going off county court records — which show ~50 cases filed against Reed. Others may be referencing CPD-specific *arrests. The 71 figure, confirmed via LE sources and a report I’ve reviewed (which cross-references a variety of identifiers and displays total arrests), is not specific to one agency or city.
@WGNNews One additional note: Reed’s 71 arrests were prior to this one, multiple law enforcement sources confirm. This arrest makes 72.
He will appear in federal court again at 10 a.m. tomorrow for his detention hearing. It is likely to be interesting if it is anything like yesterday.
He will appear in federal court again at 10 a.m. tomorrow for his detention hearing. It is likely to be interesting if it is anything like yesterday.
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