Person ‘Set On Fire’ Near Escalator At Penn Station In Manhattan? What We Know

A person was reportedly “set on fire” near an escalator at Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan, New York, on Friday. According to RAW Alerts, citing firefighters, the unidentified individual sustained burn injuries from direct flames. The cause of the incident remains unclear. The victim has been rushed to a local hospital, though the condition is currently unknown. Authorities have yet to release an official statement. Local journalist Oliya Scootercaster reported on X that MTA police are reviewing CCTV footage to corroborate the victim’s account of the incident.

Times Now has reached out to NYPD for a statement on the incident.

The incident comes days after a woman was fatally set on fire aboard a New York City subway train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station. The suspect, Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, allegedly ignited the woman’s clothing and then “fanned the flames” with a shirt as the fire consumed her. He was arrested and charged with murder and arson.

“These are significant counts. Murder in the first degree carries the possibility of life without parole. It’s the most serious statute in New York state law and my office is very confident about the evidence in the case and to hold Zapeta accountable for his dastardly deeds,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said.

The woman, believed to be homeless, has not been identified.

“The identity of the deceased is pending proper family notification,” the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information told Newsweek.

Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old illegal Guatemalan migrant, is scheduled to be arraigned January 7.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated with more information