Late Friday evening, chaos unfolded at Penn Station when Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Police responded to reports of a man on fire. An NYPD spokesperson confirmed that officers arrived on the scene at 8:10 p.m. The victim, a 67-year-old man, was transported to New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center for treatment. Details about his condition remain undisclosed.
This harrowing event is the latest in a series of violent crimes that have shaken New York City in recent weeks, including the high-profile murder of a healthcare CEO and another shocking attack involving a woman set on fire in a subway car.
Fire erupts near Penn Station escalator
While the NYPD has not confirmed the precise location of the fire, multiple sources report that it occurred near an escalator within the bustling transit hub. Authorities have yet to release further details about the cause of the incident or identify potential suspects.
The victim’s injuries are reportedly non-life-threatening, and he is in stable condition, according to fire department officials cited in The New York Times.
Subway tragedy: Woman fatally set ablaze
The Penn Station incident echoes a chilling event from earlier in the week when a man allegedly set a woman on fire in a Brooklyn subway station.
The attack, which took place at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station, left the woman dead at the scene. Surveillance footage captured the horrifying moment a man used a lighter to ignite her clothing as she appeared to sleep in a subway car.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the scene, saying the woman’s clothing “became fully engulfed in a matter of seconds.” Responding officers, who were on a routine patrol, extinguished the flames but were unable to save her life.
Suspect arrested hours after subway attack
Authorities swiftly apprehended the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta, a Guatemalan national who had been deported in 2018 but re-entered the U.S. illegally. Commissioner Tisch revealed that Zapeta lingered at the crime scene, sitting on a bench on the subway platform after the attack.
Body camera footage provided clear images of Zapeta, which were released to the public. The suspect was ultimately identified by three high school students who recognized him from the released photos. He was wearing a gray hoodie, a wool hat, paint-splattered pants, and tan boots at the time of his arrest.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez condemned the brutal attack, stating:
“The depravity of this horrific crime is beyond comprehension, and my office is committed to bringing the perpetrator to justice. This gruesome and senseless act of violence against a vulnerable woman will be met with the most serious consequences.”
A city on edge
The recent spate of violence underscores growing concerns over safety in New York City’s transit system. With two violent attacks in such close succession, commuters and officials alike are calling for increased measures to ensure public safety. As investigations into both incidents continue, city leaders face mounting pressure to address these alarming crimes and restore a sense of security to New Yorkers.