NYPD investigates after homeless man catches fire in Manhattan subway station
An elderly man is fighting for his life after he caught on fire inside Manhattan’s Penn Station on Friday evening. Emergency responders were called to the scene after MTA police received reports of a man on fire around 8 p.m. ET.
Upon arrival, MTA police officers found a 67-year-old male with severe burn injuries to his legs and upper body. The man was quickly transported to NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center for urgent medical treatment and is currently in critical condition. No arrests have been made in connection to the incident, and both NYPD and MTA police are working together to investigate the case.
This tragic incident comes just days after a horrifying event in which an illegal immigrant was arrested for setting a woman on fire on a subway train in Brooklyn. The suspect, identified as Sebastin Zapeta, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder, as well as first-degree arson. The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, tragically succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Surveillance footage captured the suspect calmly approaching the woman and setting her ablaze while she was seated on a stationary F train. The despicable act has been described by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being.” Zapeta was apprehended hours later while riding the same subway line, and he was found with a lighter in his possession.
It has been revealed that Zapeta had previously been deported by the Trump administration in 2018 after illegally crossing into the U.S. from Arizona. He re-entered the country at an unknown date and location, leading to his involvement in this heinous crime. Immigration authorities will be issuing an immigration detainer once Zapeta’s charges are finalized.
The city of New York is reeling from these shocking and senseless acts of violence, and the authorities are working diligently to bring those responsible to justice. The safety and security of residents and commuters remain a top priority as investigations unfold. Fox News reporters have been following these developments closely, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
