26-year-old woman hospitalized after a 50-year-old career criminal, who was out on bond, poured a bottle of gasoline he purchased 20 minutes earlier all over her body and set her on fire

Illinois – In a chilling and horrifying attack in Illinois, a 50‑year‑old man, identified as L. Reed, stands charged with one of the most brutal assaults in recent public transit history. Reed has been indicted on a federal terrorism offense—specifically for “committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system”—after he poured a bottle of gasoline over a 26‑year‑old Indiana woman, identified as B. MaGee, aboard a downtown train and then set her ablaze with a lit bottle.

At his charging hearing, federal prosecutors accused Reed of launching an unprovoked attack: purchasing gasoline at a gas station just 20 minutes earlier, transferring it into a plastic bottle, boarding a train, spreading the liquid over Magee’s head and body, then igniting it. Surveillance footage confirms the sequence: Reed filled a container with gas, boarded the train, poured the liquid on MaGee, chased her as she ran, then ignited the bottle and set her on fire.

Reed’s charges are not ordinary assault or arson counts; prosecutors framed the crime as terrorism due to its location, method, and intent. The federal complaint states that Reed approached MaGee while she sat with her back turned on a commuter train and launched the attack with “intent to cause death and serious bodily injury to one or more persons.” The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, and officials said that if the victim dies from her injuries, Reed could even face the death penalty—though Illinois abolished capital punishment in 2011. Reed’s criminal past is extensive: his arrest record spans over 72 separate incidents, 15 of them since 2016, and includes arson, assaults, battery, and other violent crimes. At the time of the attack, he was out on electronic monitoring for an aggravated battery charge. Prosecutors say his release represented a critical failure in the system.

The attack occurred on the evening of November 17, 2025. Reed had just filled a bottle with gasoline at a nearby gas station, surveillance showed, roughly 20 minutes before boarding the train. Once on board, he approached MaGee, removed the cap from the bottle, and poured the liquid over her head and body. The victim attempted to flee, but Reed chased her, retrieved the burning bottle after dropping it, and set her on fire. Witnesses saw the woman engulfed in flames as she exited the train and collapsed on the platform. Two bystanders rushed to help her while paramedics arrived. The victim suffered severe, life‑threatening injuries to her face and body and was transported in critical condition to a local hospital, where she remains under intensive care.

First responders later found Reed wearing the same clothes as in the surveillance footage and with injuries on his hand. He was apprehended the next day and taken into federal custody. Officials noted Reed’s erratic behavior and long history of violent offenses, underscoring the danger he posed to the community. During a detention hearing, a federal judge ordered Reed to remain detained pending trial, citing the severity of his actions and his “persistent threat of terror to the community.” His next court appearance is scheduled later this week, and he has not yet entered a plea. The possibility of a life sentence looms given the terrorism charge.

The victim’s family issued a statement requesting privacy as she continues her painful and uncertain recovery. They expressed gratitude for the support she has received but emphasized the long road ahead. This case has ignited fierce debate about the criminal justice system’s handling of repeat offenders. With over 70 prior arrests and a violent history, Reed’s ability to remain free prior to the attack has been widely condemned. Prosecutors stated plainly, “The state court system has been unable to contain [his] violent crimes, and federal intervention is now needed.” As this chilling story moves toward trial, the message is clear: an act of unprovoked violence aboard public transit has exposed profound system failures and left one woman fighting for her life. The judicial system now has the opportunity—and the responsibility—to deliver justice for her and for the community at large.