Midwest

Chicago train attack suspect ordered by judge to remain in custody ahead of trial

Published

4 months ago

December 3, 2025

Chicago train attack suspect ordered by judge to remain in custody ahead of trial

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The suspect who was federally charged after allegedly lighting a young woman on fire this week on a Chicago Blue Line train was ordered by a judge to remain detained ahead of his trial.

Lawrence Reed, 50, is charged with committing a terrorist attack or violence against a mass transportation system. Federal prosecutors said Reed intentionally used gasoline and a lighter to set the woman on fire at about 9:30 p.m. Monday.

“He is simply too dangerous for pre-trial release,” federal prosecutors wrote in a court filing obtained by Fox News ahead of Reed’s detention hearing on Friday.

“Defendant’s actions and criminal history, as shown below, demonstrate that he is a serious danger to everyone in the community,” the filing added. “The state court system has been unable to contain defendant’s violent crimes, and federal intervention is now needed.

“BLUE CITY SUSPECT WITH NUMEROUS PRIOR ARRESTS FEDERALLY CHARGED AFTER ALLEGEDLY SETTING WOMAN ABLAZE ON TRAIN

Lawrence Reed, 50, is charged with one count of committing a terrorist attack or other violence against a mass transportation system, the Northern District of Illinois U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement. (Chicago Police Department; U.S. District Court)

Judge Laura McNally ultimately ordered Reed detained pre-trial, citing his criminal history, the seriousness of the allegations, and the danger he poses to the community.

During Friday’s hearing, Reed — appearing in a jail jumpsuit and handcuffs — told the judge, “I’m going to represent myself.”

Lawrence Reed is pictured in a courtroom sketch of his detention hearing on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (L.D. Chukman)

Prosecutors described the alleged conduct as “horrific and depraved,” saying Victim A was simply “minding her own business” when Reed ignited her. As surveillance images were displayed in court, Reed shook his head, smirked and at one point winked toward apparent family members in the gallery.

CHICAGO PERSON OF INTEREST IN TRAIN FIRE ATTACK HAS 22 PRIOR ARRESTS, WAS FREED BY JUDGE: REPORT

Train footage shows Reed allegedly coming up behind the woman and pouring the liquid on her head and body. (U.S. District Court documents)

Federal prosecutors said Reed, according to Chicago Police Department records, has been arrested at least 72 times over the last 30 years.

“At least 15 of those arrests were since 2016, with the most recent occurring in August 2025. He has approximately 15 convictions, eight of which were for felony offenses including arson, criminal damage to government supported property valued over $500, drug trafficking, drug possession, and a felony traffic offense,” the filing said.

During Monday’s alleged attack, Reed “was facing charges in the Circuit Court of Cook County for aggravated battery causing great bodily harm after he allegedly struck a person about the head or face area with an open palm while at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Illinois,” according to the filing.

“Defendant presents a clear danger and persistent threat of terror to the community. Defendant has been leniently treated in state court, including receiving probationary sentences for violent offenses and pre-trial release for a victim-involved crime. In exchange for such lenient treatment, defendant has consistently re-offended and delved further into criminality,” it also said. “Just three months ago, defendant physically attacked someone at MacNeil Hospital, but a judge ordered him released from custody pending trial. Undeterred, defendant, on Monday, set Victim A on fire.”

Lawrence Reed was allegedly wearing the same clothing as the suspect seen on surveillance footage lighting a 26-year-old woman on fire when authorities confronted him one day later, according to federal prosecutors. (U.S. District Court)

When given the chance to speak on Friday, Reed said he agreed with the government’s request for detention, telling the judge repeatedly: “It’s for my safety. I don’t feel safe out there. . . . I don’t feel safe to society. . . . I’m a target from society.”

Judge McNally ordered him detained, citing his history, the strength of the evidence and community risk. She also ordered a mental evaluation after Reed told the court he had not taken his medication.

As the hearing concluded, Reed told the judge: “Just make sure I eat. . . . If you want to trial me, you have to feed me.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The judge did not state an explicit next court date during the hearing.

Fox News’ Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.

Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.

Read the full article from Here

Related Topics:chicago crime world midwest us

Click to comment

Detroit, MI

Here’s what Metro Detroit homebuyers face heading into spring season

Published

4 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

Here’s what Metro Detroit homebuyers face heading into spring season

Julie Thomas had been searching since January for a house that would give her more space for herself and her two dogs while moving her closer to work. After seeing several homes quickly snapped up, she recently went under contract for a home in Shelby Township.

“I’m very happy that we are at least working on one and that the offer was accepted,” she said. “I was definitely getting discouraged continuing to look. I’m obviously relieved from that aspect of it.”

Thomas, 25, is among Metro Detroit homebuyers experiencing a housing market in a transitional moment on multiple fronts. As the peak spring buying season begins, more listings are coming online and activity is picking up after a slower winter, even as mortgage rates have climbed back above 6%. At the same time, the average homebuyer is older than in past years, highlighting how affordability is shaping who is able to enter the market.

The median first-time homebuyer in 2025 was 40 years old, up from 30 in 2010, according to the National Association of Realtors, while Redfin reports a median age of 35. And older buyers aren’t slowing down. When including repeat buyers, those upgrading, downsizing or buying vacation homes, the median age of all U.S. homebuyers jumps to 59, up from 39 in 2010, according to Apollo chief economist Torsten Slok, who analyzed the NAR data.

Redfin puts the median age of repeat buyers at about 47. That means people aren’t just buying their first homes later. Older Americans are buying multiple times later in life instead of staying put.

Market has more showings, more buyers

The upcoming spring market is expected to bring increased activity after a winter of slower sales and moderated price increases. There were fewer homes sold in February in Metro Detroit, with year-over-year sales down and prices rising modestly.

“I would say it does feel that we are entering the very early stages of our spring market,” said Jeanette Schneider, president of RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan. “We’re seeing more activity. There’s more showings being scheduled. There are more buyers out there. They’re looking, which is good. It’s something that we want to see at this time of the year.”

Home sale activity across Metro Detroit, including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Livingston counties, was down year-over-year with 2,660 transactions, down from 2,864 last year, according to the latest RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan housing report. The median sales price was relatively stable, slipping to $297,500 from $300,000 in January, but up from $293,375 last year. Inventory levels remained between three and four months of supply, while homes continued to sell at a steady pace of about 40 days on market, according to the report.

Across a broader area covering 18 Michigan counties, new listings in February rose year-over-year, increasing 3.6% to 8,516 from 8,224, according to the latest Realcomp report. The report includes Genesee, Hillsdale, Huron, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Montcalm, Oakland, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Tuscola, Washington and Wayne counties.

“I know that sales are down, but I do think that it’s positive to have the homes on the market increase for those that are searching for a home, to give them more opportunity to find what they’re looking for,” said Karen Kage, CEO of Realcomp II Ltd. “That’s been seriously missing, like last year and this year or the year before. And so it’s nice to have, nice to see that improving so that again, they have more to choose from, especially first-time homebuyers, it’s really nice that they have more options.”

The Realcomp report also notes that pending sales fell 7.5% to 6,327 from 6,842, and closed sales decreased 10.1% to 5,794 from 6,443. The median sale price increased 2.9% to $262,000 from $254,500, and homes spent an average of 52 days on the market, up slightly from 50 days a year ago. The report also found that about 26% of new listings and 34.9% of pending sales were both listed and pending in the same month.

“To see that many homes listed and sold, or at least under contract, in the same month is very encouraging,” Kage said.

Rates influence buyers

Mortgage interest rates have ticked back above 6% after briefly dipping below that level in late February for the first time since 2022, according to Freddie Mac, coinciding with the increase in the 10‑year Treasury yield.

“Despite the modest uptick, buyers are responding to rates in this range, with existing-home sales increasing 1.7% in February,” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a statement. “Purchase applications also increased this week, a welcome sign as buyers enter spring homebuying season with rates down more than half a percentage point compared to the same time last year.”

The mortgage rate environment has had an impact on buyer behavior. “And while interest rates have kind of gone back to right about 6%, they’ve been pretty stable,” Schneider said. “That also helps buyers feel confident in moving forward.”

Kristie Lohmann, a Realtor associate with RE/MAX First in Shelby Township, said seeing rates just under 6% has been encouraging, though they’re higher than the record lows of recent years.

“People that bought a home during COVID got the 3% interest, and they’re not going anywhere because they don’t want to pay more now,” she said. “If you want to do something and you can afford the higher payment, do it and hope the rates come down. But it’s still a factor buyers have to consider.”

Affordability is impacting who enters the housing market and when. Angie Sierra, a Southfield-based agent with RE/MAX City Centre, said the typical first-time buyer she sees is 35 to 40.

“I do see quite a bit of young homeowners as well,” she said. “I have a few college students that have purchased a home, but overall, the average is in the upper 30s to early 40s.”

Among those buyers is Erica Johnson, 35, and her fiancé, Stephaun Patterson-Lovelace Sr., 36, who recently purchased their first home in Garden City for $237,900 through a land contract. It’s a three-bedroom, one-bath house with a two-car garage, fenced backyard and space for their blended family of four children, ages 9 to 18. Johnson said the process was challenging but rewarding.

Given the average age of first-time homebuyers, Johnson, a pharmacy technician, said she was told that she and Patterson-Lovelace, an Xfinity technician, were “right where they needed to be” in terms of buying a house.

“So it feels really good to not have to worry about rent, to not have to worry about somebody else’s rules and all this other stuff,” she said. “We get our own, and we can stay pretty much as long as we want to. But then we also have equity in the house moving forward.”

First-timers face high prices for lots of work

The condition of homes is another challenge for buyers, particularly first-time buyers.

Lohmann noted that many properties come on the market in less-than-ideal shape, sometimes prompting buyers to pay high prices for homes that require significant work.

“I walk in some houses and say, ‘What are they asking for this house?’” Lohmann said. “They weren’t in the best condition, and I was kind of shocked what the seller was asking.”

A move-in-ready home can make all the difference for first-time buyers. That was the case for Thomas, the first-time homebuyer from Chesterfield Township, who began her search focusing on Sterling Heights, Shelby Township and Clinton Township to be closer to her job as a registered dietitian in Pontiac.

She said her search was challenging, with homes selling quickly and prices high relative to their condition.

“Being in it makes you realize just how expensive everything is for not much, whatever you’re going to get,” she said. “It can be discouraging for sure, thinking about the market and the economy and everything.”

Thomas found a home in Shelby Township that fit her budget, making an offer of $275,500. The three-bedroom, one-bath home includes a two-car garage, a fenced backyard, a shed, a fireplace and brand-new appliances.

The home is largely move-in ready, with the recent inspection helping her identify typical maintenance needs, she said: “It’s just too (great to) pass up.”

Buyers have to maintain realistic expectations, said Marcy Soufrine, an agent with Keller Williams, especially amid tight inventory and rising prices. That often means adjusting priorities.

“They’re willing to look at slightly smaller homes, different locations, or just wait for the right opportunity,” she said, adding that sellers are starting to prepare their homes for the spring market, which could add more options for buyers.

“I’ve been talking to more people who are thinking about putting their homes on the market in the next few months. They want to get an idea of what they need to do to get their homes ready and where we can price them,” she said. “Anyone that wants to list should do it before May, June, July, because when more homes hit the market at the same time, you have more competition.”

As for Johnson, she and her fiancé worked out a deal for seller financing to make their first home purchase possible. They plan to move in and gradually make improvements, including adding a bathroom in the basement.

“We basically can move in and just fix it up over time,” she said. “But it’s our house, and it’s something we have, and we can build on that.”

cwilliams@detroitnews.com

Source link

Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee man identified as victim in shooting that injured four others

Published

5 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee man identified as victim in shooting that injured four others

A 25-year-old Milwaukee man has been identified as the fatal victim following a shooting that injured five people on the city’s north side.

Simeon I. Calvert was shot on March 21 a little after 11 a.m. at the intersection of North Darien and North 37th streets, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Calvert was transported to a hospital where he died in the operating room, the medical examiner said.

Four other people were injured in the shooting, ranging in age from 20 to 29 years old.

Police said March 23 that they have “persons of interest” in custody but continue to seek additional information.

The investigation is ongoing, police added, but it is believed that the incident was the result of an argument.

Anyone with any information about the incident is being asked to contact the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7360. To remain anonymous while providing information, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS.

This story was updated to add new information.

Source link

Minneapolis, MN

Woman dies in Minneapolis hit-and-run crash, driver still at large

Published

5 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Woman dies in Minneapolis hit-and-run crash, driver still at large

article

Minneapolis police respond to a hit-and-run that left a woman seriously injured, (FOX 9)

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A woman hit by a vehicle that fled the scene in Minneapolis over the weekend died Monday from her injuries, according to Police Chief Brian O’Hara.

Minneapolis hit-and-run crash

The backstory:

Police say they responded to reports of a hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian at about 3:10 a.m. on Sunday in the 1600 block of Marshall Street Northeast.

Officers then found a woman in her 20s suffering from potentially life-threatening injuries. She was taken to the hospital.

Investigators say the woman was crossing Marshall Street while carrying a bag of food when she was struck by a speeding vehicle.

Driver still at large

What you can do:

Police say no arrests have been made in connection with the incident. The vehicle is described as a dark-colored sedan that was possibly driven by a man.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Minneapolis police by emailing policetips@minneapolismn.gov or calling 612-673-5845 to leave a voicemail.

Road incidentsCrime and Public SafetyMinneapolis

Source link