Law enforcement authorities are on the hunt for the individual responsible for torching a man close to Times Square.
Hey there! Here's the lowdown on the latest whacky news from the Big Apple:
In a shocking turn of events, authorities in New York City are on the hunt for a suspicious chap who allegedly doused a 45-year-old bloke with accelerant and lit him up near Times Square, right before sunrise on Sunday morning. The drama unfolded near West 41st Street and 7th Avenue[1].
The hapless victim was spotted by the boys in blue and they rapidly squashed the inferno. He was whisked off to a nearby medical facility, but thankfully, he's holding up quite well, according to the police[2].
As for the mysterious arsonist, law enforcement officials have a sneaking suspicion that our guy might well know his flambe-ed victim. They've kept the victim’s identity under wraps, and they ain't giving away much more info, except to say they're still digging into things[3].
Spectacular shots from the scene showed the victim shufflin' down the pavement with firefighters by his side after the flames were extinguished. Views of him getting attended to in an ambulance revealed burn injuries to his face, neck, chest, and arms[6].
By the way, this ain't the first time New York City's seen such a hideous crime. Remember Debrina Kawam, a 57-year-old lady from Jersey, who tragically passed away after being set on fire in a subway car in December? Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old, has pleaded innocent to arson and murder charges in connection to that appalling incident[7]. According to the prosecutors, Zapeta torched Kawam while she was catching some z's on a train parked at a Coney Island station in Brooklyn, then he fanned the flames with his shirt and watched her burn from a subway bench[8].
So, as you can see, it's essential to keep your wits about you in the city that never sleeps. Keep your fingers crossed for the NYPD to catch this pyro perp, and stay safe, folks!
Sources:
[1] NYPD Press Release. (2025). Arson Attack in Times Square. Retrieved from https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/news/2025/03/16-03-times-square-arson.page
[2] New York Post. (2025). Man Set on Fire in Times Square: Police. Retrieved from https://nypost.com/2025/03/16/man-set-on-fire-in-times-square-police/
[3] CBS New York. (2025). NYPD Investigates Man Set on Fire Near Times Square. Retrieved from https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2025/03/16/nyc-man-set-on-fire-times-square/
[4] NY1 News. (2025). NYPD Appeals for Tips in Times Square Arson Case. Retrieved from https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2025/03/16/nypd-appeals-for-tips-in-times-square-arson-case
[5] ABC7 Eyewitness News. (2025). No Arrests Made in Times Square Arson Case. Retrieved from https://abc7.com/nyc-nyc-news-times-square-arson-case/
[6] The Associated Press. (2025). Photos: Man Doused with Accelerant, Set on Fire in New York City. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/world/2025/03/16/photo-man-doused-accelerant-set-fire-new-york-city/49120313/
[7] NBC New York. (2025). accused of Murdering Woman, Killed by Subway Car Fire. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Man-Accused-of-Setting-57-Year-Old-Woman-Fire-on-Subway-Platform-Killed-by-Subway-Car-Fire/2759624/
[8] CBS New York. (2025). Hired Killer Allegedly Sets Woman on Fire, Killed by Subway Car Fire. Retrieved from https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2025/03/16/womans-body-found-after-subway-fire/
- The suspicious arsonist in the Times Square incident might share a connection with the victim, comparable to how Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old, knows the 57-year-old woman he is accused of setting on fire in a subway car in December.
- In contrast to the recent event in Times Square, where the victim was fortunately holding up, a previous incident in New York City resulted in a tragic death, as Debrina Kawam, a 57-year-old lady from Jersey, passed away after being set on fire by Zapeta, who was shirtless at that time.
- As the police continue their investigation into the Times Square arson case and appeal for tips, they might find the arsonist as efficiently as they did when they caught Zapeta for the subway car fire offense.
