The main accused of killing a woman in a New York subway after setting her on fire is a Guatemalan who entered the country illegally and had been previously deported, the New York Post reported on Monday.
The suspect's name has not been released but was apprehended shortly after the incident. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said three high school-aged people called 911 after seeing images of the person, which were widely distributed on several platforms.
"In today's case, we were able to get incredibly clear and detailed images of the suspect from the initial incident. Then, we asked the media to broadcast those images far and wide so we could use the viewing public as a force multiplier — and New Yorkers came through again," Tisch said.
The New York Post detailed that the person in question initially entered the U.S. illegally at the Arizona border in 2018. He was detained shortly after and deported back to Guatemala, but managed to cross again undetected and eventually arrived in New York City, where he stayed in various migrant shelters. By April 2023 he was residing at a converted Days Inn on 36th Street and later moved to a shelter on Randall's Island.
Police allege that the suspect set a sleeping passenger on fire and stood by as she burned. Surveillance footage reportedly shows the suspect walking away as authorities arrived at the scene. Law enforcement sources noted that he does not appear to have a prior criminal record in the U.S. The motive behind the alleged attack remains unclear.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez stated that prosecutors are awaiting autopsy results to determine whether the fire directly caused the victim's death. If confirmed, the suspect could face murder charges. In a statement, Gonzalez condemned the act as a "gruesome and senseless act of violence against a vulnerable woman," pledging to pursue the case with the utmost seriousness and ensure accountability.
Statement by Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez regarding yesterday’s homicide in Coney Island: pic.twitter.com/lok9vnxHpX
— Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez (@BrooklynDA) December 23, 2024
Meanwhile, New York Governor Kathy Hochul is being criticized for boasting about making the subway "safer" and posting pictures with passengers and law enforcement on the same day the woman was burned alive and two other people were stabbed in the system.
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