CHICAGO – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is calling an attack on a CTA Blue Line an “isolated incident.”
What we know:
On Monday, a woman was set on fire by a fellow passenger. That man is now facing federal charges.
Here is what the mayor had to say about the investigation.
“The level of accountability that has to happen in this moment, I trust that the federal level will do its part,” Johnson said. “All I can say is that as awful and as horrific as this tragedy is, this is an isolated incident. As we continue to invest more in our public transportation system, we want people to feel safe as they ride.”
The backstory:
Lawrence Reed, 50, is charged with terrorism against a mass transportation system.
Prosecutors say he was on pretrial release for an aggravated battery case and has several prior cases in his criminal history.
The victim’s family said she is being cared for at Stronger Hospital.
“We would like to thank everyone for their prayers and well-wishes as our daughter receives care for injuries sustained earlier this week. We are also grateful for the excellent care and support of the burn team at Stroger Hospital. We will not be providing updates at this time, and ask for her – and our – privacy as we focus our attention on her and her recovery. Thank you,” they said in a statement.
The Source: Details for this story were provided by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson during a Thursday afternoon press conference.
Crime and Public SafetyBrandon JohnsonNewsChicagoChicago Transit Authority
