Chicago police are searching for a suspect after a 26-year-old woman was set on fire aboard a Chicago L train Monday night, leaving her in critical condition and raising new concerns about passenger safety on public transit.
According to investigators, the attack occurred on a Blue Line train as it approached the Clark & Lake station. Witnesses told police that the woman and a man believed to be in his 40s began arguing. During the confrontation, the man allegedly doused her with a liquid and then set her on fire, sparking chaos inside the train car. For information on transit safety standards, see the Chicago Transit Authority.
When the train stopped at the station, the woman managed to exit before collapsing on the platform. She was rushed to a local hospital, where she remains in critical condition. Authorities have not released her name, and hospital officials have not yet issued an update on her condition.
The suspect fled the station immediately after the attack and has not been apprehended. Police said no arrests had been made by Tuesday morning, and detectives are reviewing surveillance footage and witness statements. Cases involving aggravated assault on transit systems fall under broader violent crime categories tracked by the Chicago Police Department.
Chicago, like many major U.S. cities, has experienced a decline in violent crime following pandemic-era spikes. Still, recent political rhetoric has thrust urban crime back into national conversation. President Donald Trump has repeatedly described cities such as Chicago as unsafe and mismanaged, a characterization local leaders have strongly rejected.
Investigators continue to search for the suspect, and authorities are urging anyone with information to contact police immediately.
