Elderly Man in Critical Condition After Catching on Fire in Manhattan’s Penn Station
An elderly man is in critical condition after reportedly catching on fire inside Manhattan’s Penn Station on Friday, authorities said. Emergency personnel responded to the scene after MTA police received a call about a man on fire at approximately 8 p.m. ET.
A 67-year-old male was located with burn injuries to both of his legs and upper body, according to an NYPD spokesperson. He was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center for treatment and remains in critical condition. No arrests have been made, and a joint investigation is being conducted by the NYPD and MTA police.
This incident comes days after an illegal immigrant, Sebastin Zapeta, was arrested in connection with the heinous death of a woman who was set on fire and burned alive on a subway train in Brooklyn. Zapeta, 33, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder, as well as first-degree arson. The woman’s clothing became fully engulfed in flames in a matter of seconds, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, describing the crime as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being.”
Zapeta, who was previously arrested by Border Patrol and deported, re-entered the U.S. illegally on an unknown date and location. He was arrested hours after the incident while riding on the same subway line, and a lighter was found in his pocket. Once he is charged and details of his location are released, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will lodge an immigration detainer with the NYPD location where he is being held.
