A man aged 55 caught fire at a subway station shortly after he leapt off a train. He sustained significant burns on his legs, with burnt skin discovered on a train seat. Reports suggest the man, believed to be homeless, claimed that someone unknown set his pants on fire. Additionally, burnt paper was located on the train.
Surveillance footage revealed that the man was ablaze as the train arrived at New York’s Times Square early on Monday morning. The video showed him collapsing on the platform after disembarking from a northbound train around 3 am.
Following the incident, the man was admitted to the hospital and is anticipated to recover. Medical professionals at Weill Cornell Medical Center treated him for leg burns.
Authorities initiated an inquiry subsequent to the man being hospitalized. Police officers stated that the man has altered his version of events leading up to the incident and has become uncooperative.
Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the matter, with no arrests made thus far.
Individuals with information regarding the incident are urged to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish speakers. All calls are confidential, and tips can also be submitted through their website.
Recently, there have been distressing incidents on the New York subway where individuals have been engulfed in flames. In a previous case, Debrina Kawam, 57, from New Jersey, fell victim to a seemingly random attack that left her body severely burned.
Sebastian Zapeta, 33, faced charges of murder and arson in connection with the incident. He claimed he was intoxicated and had no recollection of the event.
In another incident in March, a 45-year-old man was set on fire in Times Square, requiring immediate medical attention after sustaining severe burns. The perpetrator reportedly fled the scene, and authorities could not determine if the attack was targeted or random.
Just last month in Chicago, a woman was set on fire aboard a Chicago Transit Authority train following a verbal altercation with a man, as reported by the police department.