Boston man accused of causing explosion after he allegedly snatched a suitcase and threw it onto MBTA tracks

Crime

The suitcase “created a large explosion” and caught on fire, suspending train service for some time, prosecutors said. 

By Abby Patkin

January 20, 2026 | 4:37 PM

2 minutes to read

A Dorchester man is being held at Suffolk County Jail after he allegedly snatched a man’s suitcase and threw it onto the train tracks at a Boston MBTA station last week, causing an explosion.

Addonis Reed, 19, pleaded not guilty to obstructing or endangering a railroad, larceny, unarmed robbery, disorderly conduct, and two counts of malicious destruction of property. Judge Mark Summerville set his bail at $10,000 and ordered him to stay away from the alleged victim and all T stops. 

Prosecutors say Reed was among a group of teenagers who confronted a fellow T rider at the State Street stop around 11:20 p.m. on Jan. 14. The young people allegedly accused the man of photographing them, which he denied, but the altercation didn’t end there. According to prosecutors, Reed split from the others and took the man’s cellphone from his hand, throwing it on the ground several times until it shattered. 

As the man attempted to gather his belongings, Reed “forcefully” took his suitcase and threw it onto the tracks, putting it in contact with the third rail, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said. The suitcase “created a large explosion” and caught on fire, suspending train service for some time, prosecutors said. 

According to the DA’s office, the man told police his suitcase contained two iPads, a laptop, Apple AirPods, and chargers, putting the total value at more than $3,000. MBTA Transit Police allegedly identified Reed through surveillance footage, prosecutors said. 

Reached by phone Tuesday, defense attorney Amziah O. Craig declined to comment on the allegations.

Read was already facing an open case out of Boston Municipal Court in Roxbury involving charges of disorderly conduct, assault with a dangerous weapon, malicious destruction of property, and assault and battery on a police officer. He also has a pending case out of BMC Central on charges of disorderly conduct and assault and battery on ambulance personnel. 

In addition to setting bail in his latest case, Summerville revoked Reed’s bail in the open cases. Reed is due back in court Feb. 20 for a probable cause hearing. 

“This is an alarming set of facts, both with the fear that the victim must have experienced during the incident and the destruction of his property and subsequent station evacuation and shutdown in service,” Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said. “I’m grateful for the quick work of transit officers in identifying and arresting this defendant.”

Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.