A horrific attack on New York City’s subway system left a woman dead after she was set ablaze. Police have taken in the suspect, based on swift responses from the police and some public tips-off.
Gruesome Attack on F Train
On Sunday morning, a woman was found dead on the subway when she was attacked with a lighter on a parked F train at Brooklyn’s Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch reported that the suspect had set the clothes of the victim on fire, which spread the flames over the body of the woman in a matter of seconds, killing her instantly.
The police officers who were patrolling the station noticed smoke and found the victim inside the subway car. They extinguished the fire, but the woman died from the injuries. The victim’s identity is not known yet.
Suspect Caught Thanks to Public Cooperation
The suspect remained unnoticed by responding officers, sitting on a platform bench with an air of calm. Surveillance footage from the subway car and body cameras of officers gave a clear image of the assailant.
Later that day, three high school students identified the suspect on another subway train and called authorities. Police stopped the train at Herald Square station in midtown Manhattan and took the man into custody without incident. A lighter was found on his person.
Investigation and Response
Police have ruled the incident a homicide but still have no motive. According to officials, the suspect and victim were not acquainted with one another because they had not interacted before the attack.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams lauded the students for calling police on the suspect, saying, “This type of depraved behavior has no place in our subways, and swift justice is paramount.”
The tragedy again casts a spotlight on issues with subway safety, but the officials point to their claims of reductions in crime. Governor Kathy Hochul vowed that more security measures are set to come, such as more National Guard members and an expansion of subway surveillance cameras.
This case shows vigilance by the public in technological advancement to ensure that justice is served for perpetrators of violent crimes.
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