An arrest has been made in connection to the tragic death of a woman who was set on fire and burned to death on a subway train in Brooklyn, New York. The person of interest, identified as a 33-year-old migrant from Guatemala, was apprehended by the New York Police Department (NYPD) following the heinous incident.
According to sources, the individual entered the U.S. illegally from Guatemala in 2018. While the suspect has no prior arrests in New York City, there was one prior arrest in Arizona, although details about the arrest remain undisclosed.
The NYPD confirmed that the fatal incident occurred at the Stillwell Avenue Subway station in Coney Island around 7:30 a.m. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch provided further details, stating that the suspect calmly approached the victim on the train and used a lighter to ignite her clothing, causing her to become fully engulfed in flames within seconds.
Fortunately, officers on patrol at the station noticed smoke and intervened promptly. With the help of an MTA employee and a fire extinguisher, the flames were extinguished. Tragically, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following a public appeal for information, three high school students recognized the suspect and alerted authorities. Transit officers swiftly located and arrested the person of interest on another train, where he was found in possession of a lighter.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed condolences to the victim's family and commended the swift action taken by the NYPD and the public in apprehending the suspect. Mayor Adams emphasized that such violent acts have no place in the city's subways and pledged to ensure justice for all victims of violent crimes.
The shocking incident, just days before Christmas, has left the community in disbelief. Witnesses described the harrowing scene, with one MTA worker recounting the woman's clothes being completely burnt off. The tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and safety measures in public spaces.
