A ride on a Chicago Transit Authority train turned into a horrifying scene on Monday night after a woman was doused with liquid and set on fire during a violent argument.
According to Fox News, Chicago police said the attack unfolded around 9:25 p.m., when the 26-year-old woman got into a dispute with a 45-year-old man while riding the train. What began as a verbal confrontation quickly escalated into a physical assault.
“That altercation became physical when the offender poured a liquid onto the victim and ignited it, causing the victim to start on fire,” the Chicago Police Department said in a statement.
Authorities said the suspect fled the moment the train came to a stop, leaving the woman badly injured on the platform. Police announced on Tuesday afternoon that a person of interest had been taken into custody, though no additional details were released.
After the attack, the woman managed to exit the train but collapsed onto the ground. The flames were extinguished by the time first responders arrived, but the extent of the injuries was severe.
The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition with significant burns across her body.
A witness who spoke with Fox Chicago described the chaotic and heartbreaking scene that greeted emergency crews.
“Just seeing her lying on the ground, and she was kind of hyperventilating and in a lot of pain. You could tell she was in really bad shape,” the witness said. “All the medics were down there, and there was a big turnout as far as responders and so forth.”
Police have not yet disclosed what led to the argument or whether the attacker and victim knew each other. The incident remains under active investigation as detectives work to piece together the moments leading up to the assault.
