Homeless Man Believed to Have Set Himself Ablaze in Penn Station Incident
A homeless man who suffered severe burns to both legs and his upper body after catching fire inside Penn Station late Friday is now suspected to have set himself on fire, according to police and MTA sources.
There is no evidence indicating that a second person was involved in the incident, which occurred in a secluded tunnel near New Jersey Transit Tracks 11 and 12.
The 67-year-old victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, was discovered by first responders around 8 p.m. and was subsequently taken to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in critical condition.
Although the man initially claimed that someone had set him on fire, it is now uncertain how the fire started, and authorities do not suspect any criminal activity.
Commuters at Penn Station were understandably shaken by the incident, especially in light of recent subway crimes. Just days earlier, an unidentified woman was tragically killed in a fire on an F train in Brooklyn.
Reacting to the recent subway violence, the Guardian Angels have announced the revival of their subway patrols to enhance safety for commuters.
Many homeless individuals in Penn Station are known to carry matches and lighters due to drug use, such as crack or synthetic marijuana. In a separate incident, murder and arson charges have been filed against Sebastian Zapeta, a Guatemalan migrant, for the F train incident.
The resurgence of subway crimes has sparked fear and concern among commuters, prompting increased vigilance and security measures to ensure public safety.
