NEW YORK, NY – A Guatemalan migrant has been apprehended following a shocking incident on a New York City subway train, where he allegedly set a sleeping passenger on fire, resulting in her death. The attack occurred early Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station, leaving commuters and transit workers in disbelief. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned the act as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit.”
The tragic event unfolded around 7:30 a.m. as the train lay idle at the station. According to police, the suspect approached the unsuspecting victim, who was seated at the end of a subway car, and used a lighter to ignite her clothing. The flames quickly engulfed her, drawing the attention of nearby officers who noticed the smoke and rushed to the scene.
Despite the officers’ efforts to extinguish the fire, the woman succumbed to her injuries before medical help could arrive. Disturbing footage captured by a bystander showed the suspect observing the flames consuming the woman with a chilling calmness.
In the aftermath, a transit officer patrolling the platform appeared to radio for assistance as the suspect casually sat on a nearby bench, pulling up his hood. As officers gathered around the scene, they were unaware that the perpetrator remained in their midst.
The suspect’s brazen behavior continued as he left the platform at the officer’s request to clear the area. However, his image was captured by body cameras worn by responding officers, providing authorities with a clear look at the individual responsible for the heinous act.
Later that day, a trio of high school students recognized the suspect from images released by the NYPD and alerted officers at the Jay and York Street station along the F line. When transit police responded, they discovered the suspect on another train, still wearing the same gray hoodie, wool hat, and paint-splattered pants as during the attack.
Authorities halted the train at Herald Square, where officers searched each car until they located and arrested the suspect. A lighter was found in his pocket, further implicating him in the crime.
Commissioner Tisch praised the young witnesses for their quick response, emphasizing the importance of public vigilance. Their actions, she said, played a crucial role in the suspect’s capture. NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta also commended the collaboration between the community and law enforcement, describing it as “amazing work.”
Investigators have yet to identify the victim, and there is no indication that she knew her attacker. As the investigation continues, authorities are seeking any additional information that might shed light on this senseless tragedy.