Chicago Train Attack: Victim Identified and Allegations Against Suspect

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has revealed that the woman set on fire aboard a Chicago train is 26-year-old Bethany McGee, who suffered serious burns from the incident.

Duffy criticized the city’s lenient crime policies, emphasizing that the attack—reportedly executed by a man with a disturbing history of 72 prior arrests—should never have occurred. “It’s hard to believe that someone with such a long record is implicated in attacking and igniting a fire on Bethany McGee in an L train,” he mentioned during a social media broadcast. “This wouldn’t have happened if he had been incarcerated. Yet here we are, with habitual offenders still free on the streets.”

The Secretary expressed that, “This negligence in Chicago is endangering citizens.” He added that “No one should live in fear while using public transportation.”

The accused, Marcus Reed, 50, has repeatedly interacted with the criminal justice system for many years and was on bail during the incident. The charges against him include a violent act against public transport.

Federal prosecutors have indicated that Reed allegedly utilized gasoline and a lighter to set McGee on fire on a CTA Blue Line train around 9:30 PM on a Monday night.

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Andrew Boutros, noted that the victim was simply sitting, reading her phone when Reed approached, poured gasoline over her, and tried to ignite it.

According to the complaint, he used the remaining gasoline in the container to light her on fire before fleeing to another part of the train.

Video evidence reportedly showed Reed watching as McGee, engulfed in flames, rolled across the floor attempting to extinguish the fire. It was pointed out that no one intervened to assist her during this ordeal.

As the train halted at Clark and Lake stations, McGee managed to escape the flames before collapsing on the platform. Two bystanders then rushed to help extinguish the fire consuming her.

She suffered critical injuries, including severe burns on her face and body, and remains hospitalized, authorities confirmed.

Prosecutors have also provided a timestamped photo showing Reed at a gas station approximately 20 minutes before the attack, where he filled a small container with gasoline.

Witness accounts indicate that after dousing McGee, Reed exited the train and departed the scene.

During his first appearance in federal court, Reed reportedly shouted, “I plead guilty, I plead guilty,” when questioned by the judge about the grave implications of his actions, to which he casually responded, “That’s cool, cool, cool.”

The judge discussed the possibility of a mental and medical evaluation for Reed, while it was highlighted that he had not been deemed mentally incompetent in previous charges.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Bond underscored that Reed has navigated the criminal justice system for 32 years since he was around 18, racking up 72 arrests along with eight felony convictions and seven misdemeanors.

Records reveal that Reed had previous charges of aggravated arson for allegedly igniting a fire during a daily COVID-19 briefing held by Governor J.B. Pritzker. Moreover, he faced misdemeanor charges for physically assaulting multiple victims at random.

Reed was previously charged with aggravated assault for an alleged incident at a psychiatric hospital and was released with an ankle monitor despite a recommendation for continued detention.