The incident occurred on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station on Sunday morning, when a man approached an unnamed woman and lit her clothing on fire, resulting in her body being "fully engulfed in flames" within seconds, according to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Despite rapid actions by police who extinguished the flames, the woman succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack, particularly whether the victim was asleep at the time or had just been unresponsive. "There was no interaction between the suspect and the victim prior to the act," stated NYPD's Joseph Gulotta, confirming that they did not know each other.
The unfolding tragedy was brought to the attention of officers on patrol as they detected smoke coming from the train car. Upon reaching the scene, they found the woman engulfed in flames, while the assailant had fled the immediate area but remained on the platform nearby. Officers were able to collect crucial video evidence from their body cameras, leading to a clear image of the suspect.
Tips from three high school students who recognized the individual's image on another subway line helped police to locate him. He was eventually arrested at the Herald Square station and found in possession of a lighter, a significant piece of evidence according to Tisch.
The arrested individual has yet to be publicly identified but is reported to have moved from Guatemala to the United States in 2018. "I express gratitude to the young citizens who reported what they saw," Tisch highlighted, emphasizing the importance of timely reporting in the community. The investigation continues as police work to ascertain the motives behind this unsettling crime.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack, particularly whether the victim was asleep at the time or had just been unresponsive. "There was no interaction between the suspect and the victim prior to the act," stated NYPD's Joseph Gulotta, confirming that they did not know each other.
The unfolding tragedy was brought to the attention of officers on patrol as they detected smoke coming from the train car. Upon reaching the scene, they found the woman engulfed in flames, while the assailant had fled the immediate area but remained on the platform nearby. Officers were able to collect crucial video evidence from their body cameras, leading to a clear image of the suspect.
Tips from three high school students who recognized the individual's image on another subway line helped police to locate him. He was eventually arrested at the Herald Square station and found in possession of a lighter, a significant piece of evidence according to Tisch.
The arrested individual has yet to be publicly identified but is reported to have moved from Guatemala to the United States in 2018. "I express gratitude to the young citizens who reported what they saw," Tisch highlighted, emphasizing the importance of timely reporting in the community. The investigation continues as police work to ascertain the motives behind this unsettling crime.