Chicago After Dark

12/06/2025

11/21/2025

11/20/2025

Downtown Chicago Domestic Terrorist

The Blue Line fire attacker has been identified as a repeat offender, Lawrence Reed .

After being arrested for randomly setting a 26-year-old woman on fire, Reed shouted “Burn alive, bitch!”as officers took him into custody.

CTA surveillance footage shows Reed walking up behind the woman with no interaction at all, removing the cap from a bottle, and pouring gasoline over her head and body. As she tried to fight him off, he lit the liquid and set her on fire, then calmly walked away while she burned.

Five years ago, Reed set Thompson Center on fire because he claimed he hadn’t received his Social Security check. He pleaded guilty to arson and was given two years of “mental health probation” by Judge Arthur Hill.

During that probation, he was arrested three separate times on misdemeanor charges—including two batteries—yet the court still declared his performance “satisfactory” after prosecutors dropped all the cases.

A few months ago, Reed also knocked a social worker unconscious while being treated at a psychiatric facility.

Despite all this, Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez rejected prosecutors’ request to detain him and instead released Reed on electronic monitoring. Shortly after, Judge Ralph Meczyk modified the order, allowing him to leave his home during daytime hours.

The victim is being treated for severe burns and remains in critical condition.

11/20/2025

City leaders including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are calling the attack on a mother and her children "Absolutely gut wrenching." Chicago Public Schools (CPS), has not released any details of consequences the students involved in the attack may face but says it’s working with city departments and agencies to provide support to Hatter and her children.