A search is underway for the arsonist who set fire to a sleeping homeless man on board a subway train in Midtown early on Monday morning.
Police said the fiery attack occurred at 3:10 a.m. on Dec. 1 on board a Harlem-bound 3 train traveling between the 34th Street-Penn Station and Times Square-42nd Street stops.
Law enforcement sources said the unidentified perpetrator approached the dozing man, aged 55, and used an unidentified substance to set fire to the victim’s lower body.
The victim managed to exit the train at Times Square-42nd Street and seek assistance. An MTA worker flagged down officers from the Midtown North Precinct and NYPD Transit District 1, who came to the man’s aid.
Police said the victim sustained burns to the lower half of his body. He was conscious and alert at the time cops found him.
EMS rushed the man to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for treatment. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.
The attack bore an eerie resemblance to a similar arson incident on board a train in Coney Island, Brooklyn, last December that shocked the city. In that case, a 33-year-old male suspect burned 57-year-old Debrina Kawam to death as she slept on board an F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in a seemingly random attack.
The perpetrator, later identified as Sebastian Zapata-Calil, 33, was ultimately indicted on murder charges.
So far, no arrests have been made in the ongoing investigation into Monday’s incident. Police provided a preliminary description of the suspected arsonist, describing him only as a Hispanic male.
Anyone with information regarding the attack can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (formerly Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
