A 50-year-old man is being questioned in connection with Monday’s Chicago train fire attack, where a woman was set on fire during an altercation. The suspect, who was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon, has a long criminal history, including 22 arrests since 2016 and 53 criminal cases in Cook County dating back to 1993. Nine of these cases resulted in felony convictions, although only two led to actual jail time, citing court documents. CWB Chicago reported.
In August, the suspect was charged with aggravated battery after allegedly knocking a female social worker unconscious at a psychiatric hospital. Despite prosecutors’ requests to keep him detained, a judge released him with electronic monitoring, allowing him to leave his home only from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays. The suspect was not publicly identified, as no charges have been filed in the train attack yet.
Police described the incident as occurring around 9:25 p.m. Monday when a 26-year-old woman was riding a Chicago Transit Authority train and got into an argument with a man. The altercation turned physical, with the suspect allegedly pouring a liquid on her and setting it on fire. The suspect fled when the train stopped, causing the woman to collapse on the platform. The flames were extinguished before first responders arrived, and she was hospitalized in critical condition with severe burns. No update on her condition was immediately available.
The case has raised questions about the intersection of criminal justice and public safety, particularly as the suspect appears to be a repeat offender. Law enforcement and legal experts are now scrutinizing the judge’s decision to release him, highlighting the ongoing debate over the balance between due process and the risks posed by individuals with extensive criminal histories. The broader context of Chicago’s crime rate and the city’s judicial system comes under renewed scrutiny as the investigation unfolds.