A Guatemalan migrant has been arrested for allegedly lighting a sleeping subway rider on fire in Brooklyn on Sunday morning — then watching as his innocent victim burned to death in what the police commissioner called "one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit." The savage killing — which happened at about 7:30 a.m. on an idling F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station — shocked commuters, MTA workers and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who said Sunday the heinous crime "took the life of an innocent New Yorker."
“The suspect calmly walked up to the victim, who was in a seated position at the end of a subway car … and used what we believe to be a lighter to ignite the victim’s clothing, which became fully engulfed in a matter of seconds,” Tisch said at a press conference. Patrolling cops smelled and saw the smoke, then followed it to the flame-covered woman, the commissioner said. They extinguished the blaze, but the victim died at the scene.
The 33-year-old suspect came to the U.S. from Guatemala in 2018. He was detained by border patrol agents in Arizona in June of the same year. His legal status wasn’t immediately clear Sunday night. He received a transit summons in May 2023, but his criminal record was largely clean otherwise. He was living at a shelter on Randall’s Island at the time of the incident.
Horrifying video obtained by the New York Post showed the suspect calmly looking on as flames consumed the still-unidentified woman, who stood inside the open subway car door. A transit cop walked by, appearing to pull out a radio to communicate before continuing down the platform. After the officer passed, the suspect got up, seemingly preparing to walk away.
The tension escalated with another video where officers yelled to the gathered crowd, “Did anybody see anything?” as smoke billowed from inside the subway car. The suspect brazenly sat on a nearby bench as police huddled around, at one point pulling his hood up just before law enforcement approached him. "Do me a favor? Walk down there,” the cop said, urging him to clear the area.
“Unbeknownst to the officers who responded, the suspect had stayed on the scene and was seated on a bench on the platform just outside the train car,” Tisch added. Later, three high schoolers called police to say they saw the man pictured in images released by the NYPD at the Jay and York Street station on the F line. When transit officers responded, they found the suspect already on another train wearing the same gray hoodie and paint-splattered pants from the attack. Cops called ahead, halting the train at Herald Square, and went from car to car until they found and arrested him.
“I want to thank the young people who called 911 to help,” Tisch said. “They saw something, and they said something, and they did something.” She praised the cooperation between the public and police, highlighting the swift capture of the suspect.
Witnesses at the crime scene described the scene. Around 1 p.m., authorities were able to carry the body bag containing the woman’s corpse, moving it to the medical examiner van. Officials have stated the victim has not yet been identified, raising concerns over how such violence could happen.
The brutal attack even caught the attention of Tesla and X owner Elon Musk, who expressed outrage after one post connected the suspect to immigration issues: “Enough is enough,” he said. This remark added fuel to the heated debate surrounding immigration policies and urban crime rates, with supporters and critics engaging fervently online.
Crime statistics reveal alarming trends, with subway murders skyrocketing by 60% this year alone. Earlier the same day, separate incidents including stabbings on other subway lines also put commuters on high alert. Residents are calling for urgent measures to address rising crime concerns and improve safety within the subway system.
Governor Kathy Hochul recently deployed 1,000 National Guard troops to patrol the subway system during the holiday rush, signaling state officials' commitment to enhanced security. Amidst public apprehension, authorities assert they are working diligently to restore safety to New York City’s subway network.
“This type of depraved behavior has no place in our subways and we are committed to working hard to...,” echoed NYPD Commissioner Tisch, reaffirming the city’s resolve to prevent future tragedies.
The incident has not only shocked Brooklyn but has also reignited discussions about subway safety, the economy, and the impact of crime on community life. With the city bracing for upcoming holidays, residents hope for improved security measures to prevent such horrific acts from occurring again.
