Suspect lit man on fire near Times Square before 'fleeing' scene: NYPD
The 45-year-old victim was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition, police said.
A 45-year-old man was set on fire in New York City in the early hours of Sunday morning, officials say.
According to an NYPD spokesperson, the incident happened in the Midtown South Precinct just before 4 a.m. According to NBC 4 New York and other media outlets, that's in the Times Square area.
Officers learned that the suspect "lit the victim on fire before fleeing to parts unknown," police said. He was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
The victim told police that he may know the suspect and reportedly had a verbal exchange before he was attacked with liquid and then set ablaze.
The suspect remains at large as of Monday morning, and an investigation is underway.
Woman killed in fire attack on NYC train
The attack comes months after a woman, identified as 57-year-old Debrina Kawam, was burned to death while on the F train at a Brooklyn station.
The harrowing December 2024 incident raised the alarm about the safety of the city's public subway system. Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, was arrested in connection to the crime, where he is accused of setting her on fire with a lighter and fanned the flames using a shirt.
He was charged with murder and arson, which he pleaded not guilty to in early January.
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for Paste BN. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.