Teen charged after alleged State Street Station suitcase toss sparked lithium-battery fire and MBTA evacuation

Incident at State Street station led to evacuation and service disruption

A 19-year-old has been charged after prosecutors say he harassed and robbed an MBTA rider at State Street station and threw the rider’s suitcase onto the tracks, where it ignited and triggered an emergency response and evacuation.

The incident unfolded late on the night of Jan. 14, when a group of five teens confronted a passenger on the platform after accusing him of photographing them. Prosecutors say the confrontation escalated after one teen separated from the group and followed the rider, leading to a sequence of alleged theft and property damage captured on MBTA surveillance video.

What prosecutors allege happened on the platform

Investigators say the defendant, Addonis Reed, grabbed the victim’s phone and repeatedly threw it to the ground. Prosecutors allege he then took the victim’s suitcase and tossed it onto the tracks.

Once on the tracks, the suitcase caught fire and was described by authorities as having “exploded.” Fire officials said the ignition was consistent with a lithium battery making contact with the third rail, which can rapidly heat and ignite battery components.

The station was evacuated as crews responded to the fire and assessed safety risks to passengers and transit infrastructure.

Reported losses and disruptions

The victim told police the suitcase contained more than $3,000 worth of items, including two tablets, a laptop, wireless earbuds and chargers. No injuries were reported in the publicly released accounts of the incident.

Transit service through the area was disrupted while responders secured the scene. Service resumed the following morning after the station was cleared.

• Location: State Street station
• Alleged trigger for the fire: lithium battery contacting the third rail after the suitcase was thrown onto the tracks
• Immediate impacts: evacuation, emergency response and temporary service interruption

Charges filed and broader public-safety questions

Reed faces charges including obstructing or endangering a railroad, larceny from a person, unarmed robbery, disorderly conduct and two counts of malicious destruction of property. Prosecutors also disclosed that Reed has other open cases in Boston Municipal Court alleging additional incidents involving disorderly conduct and assault-related charges dating to late 2025 and early January 2026.

The case adds to renewed scrutiny of passenger safety, platform security and the hazards posed when personal items—especially those containing lithium batteries—enter track areas near electrified equipment. Transit systems routinely warn riders that track access is dangerous, both because of electrical hazards and because contact between the third rail and conductive or battery-powered devices can quickly create fire conditions.

Reed was arrested after transit police reviewed surveillance footage. The criminal case is expected to proceed in court in the weeks ahead.