A woman was killed in a horrifying act of violence early Sunday, December 22, 2024, when she was set on fire while sleeping aboard a subway train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn.
According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), a 33-year-old Guatemalan man poured a flammable liquid on the victim, ignited it, and reportedly watched as she burned to death. Commuters noticed smoke and alerted authorities, but emergency responders pronounced the woman dead at the scene.
The suspect was apprehended shortly afterward on another train, still in possession of a lighter. Police are investigating the motive behind the attack, and the victim’s identity remains unknown.
This marks the ninth homicide on New York City’s subway system in 2024, an increase from five reported last year. The incident has reignited debates over safety in the transit system despite ongoing efforts, including the deployment of additional security personnel and National Guard troops.
The NYPD has called the act “one of the most depraved crimes” in recent memory as investigations continue.
