A man, aged 55, was caught in flames at a subway station shortly after leaping off a train. The individual sustained significant burns on his legs, with charred skin discovered on a train seat. Reports suggest the man was homeless and claimed his trousers were set alight by an unidentified person. Burnt paper was also recovered on the train.
Video surveillance revealed the man being engulfed in flames upon arrival at New York’s Times Square early on Monday morning. The footage depicted him collapsing on the platform after exiting a northbound train around 3 am.
The man received medical treatment and is anticipated to survive the ordeal. Medical professionals at Weill Cornell Medical Center attended to his leg burns.
Following the man’s hospitalization, police initiated an investigation. Authorities stated that the man altered his recount of the incident and became 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 tips are confidential, and submissions can also be made via their website.
Recent incidents on the New York subway have seen individuals engulfed in flames. In a previous occurrence in December, Debrina Kawam, 57, from New Jersey, was identified as the victim of an apparent random attack that left her 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 ablaze in Times Square. Footage captured the man with severe burns, prompting authorities to transport him to safety once the fire was extinguished. The perpetrator reportedly fled, and authorities were uncertain if the attack was targeted or random.
Additionally, last month in Chicago, a woman was set on fire aboard a Chicago Transit Authority train following a verbal altercation with a man, as stated by the police department.