The Chicago man who allegedly doused a woman in gasoline and lit her on fire on 17 November was labeled a 'career criminal' by the White House.
Lawrence Reed, arrested for the crime, has an extensive history with 72 prior arrests, involving eight felony convictions and seven misdemeanors. The victim, 26-year-old Bethany MaGee, survived the attack but is currently fighting for her life with severe burns.
During a court appearance Monday, Reed repeatedly stated, 'I'm guilty', as he faced a life sentence for charges including committing a terrorist act.
The White House pointed fingers at Democrats' crime policies, referring to them as 'soft', especially since Illinois and Chicago are under Democratic leadership. This incident has spurred discussions about the 'no cash bail' law, which allows certain individuals to be released pre-trial without posting bail.
Reed was reportedly a free man due to laws enacted by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a situation that concerns President Trump, who has threatened to eliminate federal funds for the state.
Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed condolences, labeling the incident as a tragedy, while reflecting on the system's failings regarding individuals with mental health issues. Reed has a known history of mental illness and was previously released on electronic monitoring following an aggravated battery charge.
The shocking attack occurred as MaGee was simply reading her phone on a train. Reed approached her, soaked her in gasoline, and ignited her. Footage from the scene shows her rolling on the floor engulfed in flames in a desperate attempt to extinguish the fire.
In a prior statement, Mayor Johnson called for discussions on criminal justice reform, stating that the attack should never have occurred and showcased the systemic failure of both the criminal justice and mental health systems.
