Chicago train attack suspect ordered by judge to remain in custody ahead of trial

The fishy who was federally charged aft allegedly lighting a young pistillate connected occurrence this week connected a Chicago Blue Line bid was ordered by a justice to stay detained up of his trial. 

Lawrence Reed, 50, is charged with committing a violent onslaught oregon unit against a wide proscription system. Federal prosecutors said Reed intentionally utilized gasoline and a lighter to acceptable the pistillate connected occurrence astatine astir 9:30 p.m. Monday.   

"He is simply excessively unsafe for pre-trial release," national prosecutors wrote successful a tribunal filing obtained by Fox News up of Reed’s detention proceeding connected Friday. 

"Defendant’s actions and transgression history, arsenic shown below, show that helium is simply a superior information to everyone successful the community," the filing added. "The authorities tribunal strategy has been incapable to incorporate defendant’s convulsive crimes, and national involution is present needed.

"BLUE CITY SUSPECT WITH NUMEROUS PRIOR ARRESTS FEDERALLY CHARGED AFTER ALLEGEDLY SETTING WOMAN ABLAZE ON TRAIN 

Lawrence Reed, 50, is charged with 1 number of committing a violent onslaught oregon different unit against a wide proscription system, the Northern District of Illinois U.S. Attorney’s Office said successful a statement. (Chicago Police Department; U.S. District Court)

Judge Laura McNally yet ordered Reed detained pre-trial, citing his transgression history, the seriousness of the allegations, and the information helium poses to the community. 

During Friday’s hearing, Reed -- appearing successful a jailhouse jumpsuit and handcuffs -- told the judge, "I’m going to correspond myself." 

Prosecutors described the alleged behaviour as "horrific and depraved," saying Victim A was simply "minding her ain business" erstwhile Reed ignited her. As surveillance images were displayed successful court, Reed shook his head, smirked, and astatine 1 constituent winked toward evident household members successful the gallery.

CHICAGO PERSON OF INTEREST IN TRAIN FIRE ATTACK HAS 22 PRIOR ARRESTS, WAS FREED BY JUDGE: REPORT 

Train footage shows Reed allegedly coming up down the pistillate and pouring the liquid connected her caput and body. (U.S. District Court documents)

Federal prosecutors said Reed, according to Chicago Police Department records, has been arrested astatine slightest 72 times implicit the past 30 years. 

"At slightest 15 of those arrests were since 2016, with the astir caller occurring successful August 2025.  He has astir 15 convictions, 8 of which were for felony offenses including arson, transgression harm to authorities supported spot valued implicit $500, cause trafficking, cause possession, and a felony postulation offense," the filing said. 

During Monday’s alleged attack, Reed "was facing charges successful the Circuit Court of Cook County for aggravated artillery causing large bodily harm aft helium allegedly struck a idiosyncratic astir the caput oregon look country with an unfastened thenar portion astatine MacNeal Hospital successful Berwyn, Illinois," according to the filing.

"Defendant presents a wide information and persistent menace of panic to the community. Defendant has been leniently treated successful authorities court, including receiving probationary sentences for convulsive offenses and pre-trial merchandise for a victim-involved crime. In speech for specified lenient treatment, suspect has consistently re-offended and delved further into criminality," it besides said. "Just 3 months ago, suspect physically attacked idiosyncratic astatine MacNeil Hospital, but a justice ordered him released from custody pending trial.  Undeterred, defendant, connected Monday, acceptable Victim A connected fire." 

Lawrence Reed was allegedly wearing the aforesaid covering arsenic the fishy seen connected surveillance footage lighting a 26-year-old pistillate connected occurrence erstwhile authorities confronted him 1 time later, according to national prosecutors. (U.S. District Court)

When fixed the accidental to talk connected Friday, Reed said he agreed with the government’s petition for detention, telling the justice repeatedly: "It’s for my safety. I don’t consciousness harmless retired there… I don’t consciousness harmless to society… I’m a people from society." 

Judge McNally ordered him detained, citing his history, the spot of the evidence, and assemblage risk. She besides ordered a intelligence valuation aft Reed told the tribunal helium had not taken his medication.

As the proceeding concluded, Reed told the judge: "Just marque definite I eat… If you privation to proceedings me, you person to provender me." 

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The justice did not authorities an explicit adjacent tribunal day during the hearing.

Fox News’ Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.