A chilling act of violence unfolded beneath the streets of New York City, leaving a 56-year-old man fighting for his life. An 18-year-old has been arrested and charged after allegedly setting the sleeping man ablaze on a northbound Number 3 train early Monday morning.
Hiram Carrero, a resident of Manhattan, now faces a barrage of charges including attempted murder, assault, arson, and reckless endangerment. The charges stem from a horrifying incident where the victim was deliberately ignited while vulnerable and unaware.
Investigators pieced together the sequence of events after reviewing surveillance footage. Carrero reportedly boarded the train at Penn Station just after 3 a.m., spotting the sleeping man and then committing the brutal attack before swiftly exiting the train.
The extent of the victim’s injuries was devastating; authorities discovered skin transferred onto a subway seat, a grim testament to the intensity of the flames. Despite the severity of his burns, medical professionals anticipate he will survive.
The New York Police Department released surveillance video earlier this week, seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspect. The footage depicted a man in a gray jacket and black hat, moments before and after the attack.
This horrific incident echoes a similar tragedy from December 2024, when a woman was fatally set on fire in an unprovoked attack on a Brooklyn subway train. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was arrested in connection with that case, having been previously deported from Guatemala.
The city is left grappling with the unsettling recurrence of these violent acts, raising questions about safety and security within the subway system and the vulnerability of those seeking shelter within its depths.
