Maniac repeat offender accused of setting Chicago train rider on fire now charged with trying to torch City Hall

The deranged career criminal charged with setting a woman on fire on a Chicago train last month has been indicted on an additional charge for allegedly trying to torch City Hall just days earlier.

Lawrence Reed, 50, “maliciously damaged and attempted to damage and destroy” Chicago’s City Hall building on Nov. 14, prosecutors alleged in court records released Thursday.

Thankfully, the fire did not spread beyond the initial flames and did not cause damage, Mayor Brandon Johnson has said.

Three days after the City Hall fire, Reed allegedly doused a 26-year-old commuter with an accelerant and set her ablaze while aboard a CTA train.

His arrest for that sickening train attack triggered national outrage when it emerged he was a felon with more than 70 arrests who was only free because he’d been given bail for allegedly knocking out a psychiatric worker weeks earlier.

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Reed Lawrence’s booking photos.Chicago PD

Mugshot of Lawrence Reed, 50, a Chicago man with a lengthy criminal history. — Chicago PD

Mugshot of Lawrence Reed, a 50-year-old Chicago man, facing the camera with a neutral expression. — Chicago PD

Mugshot of Lawrence Reed, 50. — Chicago PD

The train firebug was sitting in the back of a Chicago Blue Line L car when he approached the woman, later identified as “soft spoken” Bethany MaGee, who had her back to him — and then poured gasoline from a plastic bottle on her head and body, according to an arrest affidavit.

Surveillance video captured a train rider identified as Lawrence Reed holding a flaming bottle before his fire attack on Nov. 17, 2025. AP

MaGee fought off the attacker, running from one end of the car to another — until Reed allegedly then ignited the bottle, setting Magee on fire, according to the affidavit.

She was engulfed in flames but somehow managed to hop off the train, collapsing on the platform where good Samaritans helped her. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, suffering burns on more than 60% of her body.

When he was arrested, Reed allegedly shouted, “burn alive bitch.” He remains behind bars on federal terrorism charges, which carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Reed's victim was an innocent 26-year-old woman critical injured during the attack. — Reed’s victim was an innocent 26-year-old woman critically injured during the attack.

Reed has more than 70 prior arrests, including felonies for which he pleaded guilty, officials said. However, he’s only served time twice, spending just two and a half years behind bars in total.

He was out on pretrial release at the time of the attack after allegedly knocking out cold a psychiatric hospital worker in August. Prosecutors had requested Reed remain locked up but a judge overruled them — leaving him free to roam the streets.

He was busted 72 times Cook County alone and convicted in 15 of those cases, federal prosecutors said.

One of those busts included an aggravated arson charge, in which he was accused of dousing the city’s Thompson Center government building with liquid and setting it on fire just before Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker was due to give remarks at a press conference.

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