Authorities have reported that a “person of interest” was apprehended on Sunday in connection with the death of a woman who was set on fire aboard a New York City subway train. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the suspect and the victim were on an F train heading towards the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn around 7:30 a.m. The suspect allegedly set the victim on fire as the train reached the station and then fled the scene. The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, was taken into custody a few hours later while riding another F train, according to NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta.
During a news conference, Tisch mentioned that initially, they had planned to seek the public’s assistance in identifying the perpetrator of the heinous crime. The victim, an innocent New Yorker, lost her life in the incident. Police suspect that the suspect used a lighter to ignite the victim’s clothing, causing her to be engulfed in flames rapidly. Officers patrolling the station noticed smoke and flames, leading to the discovery of the victim inside the train car. Despite efforts to extinguish the fire, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim has not been identified, and the incident is being treated as a homicide investigation. Surveillance footage from the subway train and body cameras of responding officers provided a clear view of the suspect’s actions. The suspect was described as a man between 25 to 30 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall, wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, grey wool hat, paint-splattered pants, and tan boots.
The suspect was apprehended after three high school students reported seeing a man matching the description on another moving train. A transit officer confirmed the man’s presence on the train and radioed ahead to halt the train, leading to the suspect’s arrest without any issues. The suspect, who had a lighter in his possession, had immigrated from Guatemala to the United States in 2018.
“We are grateful for the young people who had the courage to call 911 for help,” stated Tisch. “Their vigilance, readiness to speak up, and prompt actions truly made a difference.”
New York City’s subway system sees approximately 4 million rides each weekday, with violent crimes being relatively uncommon. Police data up to November revealed nine reported homicides in the subway in 2024, a higher number compared to the same period in 2023, where five were reported.
The recent incident occurred on Sunday, following announcements by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, MTA CEO Janno Leiber, and law enforcement officials to enhance subway safety measures. Earlier this year, Governor Hochul introduced a comprehensive “five-point plan” aimed at utilizing state resources to improve subway safety in New York City. The plan commenced with the deployment of 750 state National Guard members, along with 250 state troopers and MTA police officers, in response to a series of notable incidents on the subway, including a fatal shooting on an elevated platform and an attack on a train conductor.
In a highly publicized case earlier this month, Daniel Penny was acquitted by a jury of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely, a former Michael Jackson impersonator who was homeless. Neely had been behaving disruptively on a subway train, leading Penny to restrain him in a chokehold for several minutes, resulting in tragic consequences.
Governor Hochul recently declared that an additional 250 National Guard members will be deployed to New York City to reinforce safety measures. She also announced the installation of over 15,000 security cameras across the subway system to ensure each train has proper surveillance. Hochul emphasized her commitment to enhancing subway safety, stating, “Earlier this year, I promised to make our subways safer for the millions of people who take the trains each day, and today we are continuing our efforts by putting more National Guard members on the ground and installing security cameras on every car. By working collaboratively with the MTA and New York City, we are deterring crime, making it safer for all riders, and restoring public confidence in the system.”
