The Chicago man who allegedly doused a woman in gasoline and lit her on fire on 17 November was a career criminal, the White House has said.
The suspect, Lawrence Reed, has a staggering record of 72 prior arrests, including eight felony convictions and seven misdemeanors. The victim, Bethany MaGee, 26, survived the brutal attack but is now reportedly battling for her life with severe burns.
In a courtroom outburst, Reed proclaimed his guilt multiple times as he faced charges that could lead to a life sentence, including committing a terrorist attack.
The White House attributed Reed's release to Democratic crime policies, particularly Illinois's recent elimination of cash bail, which has been condemned by critics as lenient and dangerous. President Donald Trump is actively seeking to withhold federal funds from Illinois, citing this law as a contributing factor to public safety concerns.
Mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, expressed his condolences to the victim's family, commenting on the tragedy as an unfortunate reflection of failures in both the criminal justice system and mental health support.
Reed, who is 50 years old, has faced mental health challenges throughout his adult life. Past incidents include aggravated battery charges, for which he was released with electronic monitoring.
On the day of the attack, prosecutors detailed how he approached MaGee from behind while she was engrossed in her phone, before dousing her with gasoline and subsequently setting her alight. Reports of the incident emphasize the horror of the event, with witnesses describing Reed watching as MaGee attempted to extinguish the flames engulfing her.
Last week, Mayor Johnson reaffirmed that such incidents must not occur, asserting that they are indicative of deeper systemic failures that need urgent attention.
The suspect, Lawrence Reed, has a staggering record of 72 prior arrests, including eight felony convictions and seven misdemeanors. The victim, Bethany MaGee, 26, survived the brutal attack but is now reportedly battling for her life with severe burns.
In a courtroom outburst, Reed proclaimed his guilt multiple times as he faced charges that could lead to a life sentence, including committing a terrorist attack.
The White House attributed Reed's release to Democratic crime policies, particularly Illinois's recent elimination of cash bail, which has been condemned by critics as lenient and dangerous. President Donald Trump is actively seeking to withhold federal funds from Illinois, citing this law as a contributing factor to public safety concerns.
Mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, expressed his condolences to the victim's family, commenting on the tragedy as an unfortunate reflection of failures in both the criminal justice system and mental health support.
Reed, who is 50 years old, has faced mental health challenges throughout his adult life. Past incidents include aggravated battery charges, for which he was released with electronic monitoring.
On the day of the attack, prosecutors detailed how he approached MaGee from behind while she was engrossed in her phone, before dousing her with gasoline and subsequently setting her alight. Reports of the incident emphasize the horror of the event, with witnesses describing Reed watching as MaGee attempted to extinguish the flames engulfing her.
Last week, Mayor Johnson reaffirmed that such incidents must not occur, asserting that they are indicative of deeper systemic failures that need urgent attention.
