In a chilling incident on Sunday morning, a woman was tragically set on fire while sleeping on an F train at New York City's Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station. The attack, which left the victim dead, has stunned both commuters and authorities, drawing widespread condemnation. New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the crime as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit.”

The horrific scene

According to the New York Post, at around 7:30 am, the F train was idling at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station when a man approached a woman who was seated at the end of the subway car. Without any provocation, he calmly used a lighter to ignite the victim’s clothing. During a press conference, Tisch said that the suspect calmly walked up to the victim and used what we believe to be a lighter to ignite the victim’s clothing, which became fully engulfed in a matter of seconds.

As the flames rapidly spread, the woman became engulfed in fire. The smell of smoke alerted nearby officers, who rushed to the scene. They found the woman engulfed in flames and were able to quickly extinguish the fire, but tragically, she died at the scene. Chilling video footage captured the assailant watching the horrifying spectacle unfold, appearing disturbingly detached. The victim, wearing a blanket, was seen standing up fully engulfed in flames after the suspect ignited it. Tisch noted that "the victim was motionless at the start of the attack," adding that it was unclear whether she had been asleep.

Arrest made after quick action from officers and citizens

After the horrifying attack, the suspect fled the scene. However, swift actions by patrolling officers and vigilant citizens led to his prompt arrest. Officers were able to locate the man aboard another train, still wearing the same gray hoodie and paint-splattered pants as he had during the attack. Tisch praised the public’s role in the arrest and said that she is thankful to the young people who called 911 to help.

The suspect, identified as a migrant from Guatemala, had entered the US in 2018 through Arizona. Authorities are still investigating his immigration status, but police confirmed that he did not know the victim and had no prior criminal record in New York City.

Elon Musk speaks out

The horrific incident caught the attention of billionaire Elon Musk, who responded to a post on X condemning the attack and raising concerns about the suspect’s immigration status. The post claimed that the man was a recent migrant from Guatemala and criticized the Biden administration for not deporting him. Musk weighed in with a brief but pointed comment: “Enough is enough.” His remark sparked a heated debate online, with critics and supporters clashing over immigration policies and crime rates.

Safety concerns: Rising crime in the subway system

The brutal attack has once again highlighted growing safety concerns in New York City's subway system. Despite efforts to increase security, including the recent deployment of 1,000 National Guard troops to patrol the subway during the holiday rush, crime continues to surge. Subway murders have increased by 60% this year, with eight people killed as of September, compared to five during the same period in 2023.

The attack is the latest in a string of violent incidents that have rattled commuters. Just hours earlier, a deadly stabbing occurred on a Queens-bound 7 train, and a conductor was assaulted on a northbound D train.