NYPD arrests man suspected of lighting homeless girl on hearth in Brooklyn subway automotive, killing her

Police arrested a person who allegedly lit a sleeping homeless girl on hearth in a Brooklyn subway automotive Sunday morning, then watched calmly as she burned to loss of life, NYPD officers mentioned.

Chilling video obtained by the Each day Information exhibits the girl standing close to the door of a stopped subway automotive on the Coney-Island-Stillwell Ave. station, her garments ablaze, whereas a person sits on a bench on the platform a couple of ft away and casually watches.

“Officers who have been on patrol on an higher stage of that station smelled and noticed smoke and went to research. What they noticed was an individual standing contained in the prepare automotive absolutely engulfed in flames,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch mentioned of the macabre crime. “With the help of an MTA employee and a fire extinguisher, the flames were put out. Unfortunately, it was too late, and the victim was pronounced [dead] on the scene.

“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.

Police body cameras captured crystal clear images of the man, which were then disseminated to the public. Three teenagers recognized the man from the photos and called 911, enabling NYPD and transit officers to work together to arrest him, Tisch said.

The horrifying scene was captured on disturbing video obtained by The News. “This is a person right here! Oh s–t!” a voice may be heard on the cellphone video as the girl is seen engulfed in flames whereas what seems to be like a police officer walks by and talks right into a radio.

The woman’s identification was not instantly launched, however sources advised The Information she seemed to be homeless and was sleeping in a stationary F prepare on the Coney Island-Stillwell Ave. subway cease at about 7:30 a.m. when the suspect set her on hearth.

“An individual of curiosity is in custody. So now we’re calling upon the remainder of the justice system to step up and do their jobs,” Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta mentioned on the Sunday press convention. “There must be strong, swift consequences on this person, and I use that term lightly, who committed this brutal, brutal homicide. There is no room in civilized society for people like him to be walking around.”

The victim and suspect did not appear to know each other and had no prior interaction before the suspect lit the woman on fire, Gulotta said.

The suspect’s identity was not immediately released, but Gulotta noted the man had immigrated to the U.S. from Guatemala in 2018.

“It’s foul. It’s wrong. Nobody deserves to get burned up, no matter if she’s homeless,” said Kenny Cruz, who was sitting outside a convenience store outside the Coney Island/Stilwell Avenue subway station in a wheelchair on Sunday. “My heart goes out to that lady.”

 

Initially Revealed: December 22, 2024 at 12:13 PM EST