A horrific incident aboard a New York subway has led to the arrest of a man accused of setting a woman ablaze. Police are still investigating the motives behind this shocking crime that unfolded on a stationary F train.
Arrest Made in Horrific Subway Arson Case in New York
Arrest Made in Horrific Subway Arson Case in New York
A man has been taken into custody following the tragic death of a woman who was set on fire while on a Brooklyn subway train.
A man has been arrested in connection with the death of a woman who was tragically set on fire aboard a subway train in Brooklyn, New York. The incident occurred while the woman was on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station and has been described by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch as "one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being."
According to police reports, the assault took place early Sunday morning when the woman was approached by the suspect, who used a lighter to ignite her clothing, which quickly became "fully engulfed in a matter of seconds." Though officers on duty rushed to extinguish the flames, the victim succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Investigators are currently working to uncover the motive behind this brutal attack. Police have not filed charges as they continue to gather evidence; however, they have stated that there was no interaction between the woman and the man before the horrific act. It remains unclear whether the victim was asleep or awake during the incident.
Upon receiving the first call regarding the fire, officers on patrol noticed smoke emanating from the subway car and rushed to the scene. They found the woman engulfed in flames. The suspect, who fled the scene but did not go far, was captured on body-worn cameras, which provided clear images for further identification.
Later, three teenagers recognized the suspect on a subway train and promptly alerted the authorities, leading to his apprehension at Herald Square station, not far from the Empire State Building. During the arrest, the man was found in possession of a lighter, which further implicated him in the crime. It was revealed that the suspect emigrated from Guatemala to the United States in 2018.
In a testament to the role of community vigilance, Commissioner Tisch expressed gratitude toward the young individuals who acted quickly by calling 911, saying, "They saw something, they said something, and they did something."
