The offender responsible for the aggravated arson of a 26-year-old female on a CTA Blue Line train has been federally charged due to the swift and coordinated response by members of the Chicago Police Department’s Bureau of Detectives and Bureau of Counterterrorism.
On November 17, 2025 at approximately 9:25 p.m., a 50-year-old male offender approached a 26-year-old female victim on a moving Blue Line train. In an unprovoked and horrific attack, the offender poured a flammable liquid on the female victim. The offender, a convicted felon, attempted to light the victim on fire, but briefly lit himself on fire. As the victim attempted to flee to another area of the train, the offender followed and proceeded to light the victim on fire. When the train arrived at the Clark/Lake station, the offender fled the scene. The victim ran off the train and collapsed. Several bystanders came to her aid and extinguished the flames.
The Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Fire Department immediately responded to the scene and rendered aid. The victim was taken to the hospital, where she remains in critical condition. Responding officers immediately secured the scene and located evidence from the train car.
Detectives from the Major Crimes Division Arson Section and the Area 3 Detective Division responded to the scene. In partnership with the CTA Safety & Security, the Public Transportation Strategic Decision Support Center (SDSC) and embedded detectives began tracking the offender’s movements. Detectives discovered that, prior to the attack, the suspect visited a gas station and filled up a plastic bottle with gasoline. Detectives secured additional information to identify the offender. Utilizing this information, members of CPD’s Public Transportation Section Tactical Team located the offender the day after the attack in the 100 block of W. Washington St. At the time of his arrest, the offender was wearing the same clothing he was seen wearing on surveillance camera during the attack on the Blue Line. He also had burn injuries to his hands.
“As we do in all investigations, our hardworking Chicago Police Department members immediately responded and worked to apprehend this violent offender so he could not harm anyone else,” said CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling. “Our police officers and detectives identified the offender and took him into custody in less than 24 hours. Their quick response is proof that heinous acts of violence like this will never be tolerated in our city. The men and women of CPD will always do everything within our power to hold violent offenders accountable.”
The offender was questioned by detectives after being taken into custody. Detectives from the CPD Arson Section worked closely with the ATF Chicago Field Division, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the U.S. State’s Attorney’s Office to determine appropriate charges.
On November 19, 2025, less than 48 hours after the attack, the offender was transferred into the custody of the ATF Chicago Field Division and federally charged with a terrorist attack or other violence against a mass transportation system (Title 18, United States Code, Section 1992(a)(7), (b)(1), and (c)(1)).
Members of the Bureau of Counterterrorism Public Transit Section, Government Security Detail, and Bureau of Detectives, including the Arson Section, Area 3 Detective Division, Citywide Robbery Task Force, Investigative Response Team, Major Crimes Division Area Technology Center, and Forensic Services Section all worked together quickly to take this violent offender into custody in pursuit of justice for the victim.