[FoxNews] Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy identified the woman set on fire aboard a Chicago train as 26-year-old Bethany MaGee, who suffered severe burns in the attack.
Duffy blasted the city’s lax crime policies, saying the attack, allegedly carried out by a career criminal with 72 prior arrests, never should have happened.
Alright, look, I've tried to be reasonable. You give me your word in ten seconds or I shoot you in the head.
"It is devastating that a career criminal with 72 PRIOR ARRESTS is now accused of attacking 26-year-old Bethany MaGee on Chicago’s L train and setting her on fire," Duffy said on X. "This would never have happened if this thug had been behind bars. Yet Chicago lets repeat offenders roam the streets.
"Chicago’s carelessness is putting the American people at risk," he continued. "No one should ever have to fear for their lives on the subway."
Authorities said the alleged attacker, 50-year-old Marcus Reed, has spent decades cycling through the criminal justice system and was out on bond at the time of the assault. Reed has been charged with committing a terrorist attack or violence against a mass transportation system, according to the criminal complaint.
Federal prosecutors allege that Reed intentionally used gasoline and a lighter to set MaGee on fire aboard a CTA Blue Line train at about 9:30 p.m. Monday.
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros said the woman was "minding her own business and reading her phone" while seated in the middle of the train car when Reed approached her from behind, doused her head and body with gasoline, and tried to ignite the liquid.
The woman ran to the back of the car as he ignited the rest of the liquid in the bottle and then used it to light her on fire, according to the complaint.
Video allegedly showed Reed watching the woman, engulfed in flames, as she tried to put out the fire by rolling on the floor.
Boutros said as the woman was rolling on the ground, desperately trying to put out the fire, no one came to her aid.
When the train stopped at Clark and Lake, the complaint noted the victim, who was still on fire, managed to exit before collapsing on the platform.
"When she finally stumbled down, two Samaritans came and put out the blaze that was all consuming her," Boutros said.
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