NYC Subway Arson: Suspect Caught on Video

The NYPD is searching for a man who allegedly set multiple fires in Lower Manhattan and Queens, including one on a subway train. Security footage shows the suspect igniting a fire next to a sleeping passenger on a northbound J train at the Woodhaven Avenue station.

This incident occurred on January 10th and bears an unsettling resemblance to the December death of Debrina Kawam, who was fatally burned while sleeping on a Coney Island train. The suspect's alleged spree began around 2:20 a.m. with a fire set to an NYPD vehicle. He then allegedly ignited another fire damaging an unoccupied vehicle, followed by setting fire to a paper cup near the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall station, before the subway incident.

Subway Safety Concerns Intensify

This incident highlights ongoing safety concerns within the NYC subway system. Recent events, such as a random pushing incident on New Year's Eve, have intensified scrutiny.

The MTA is implementing congestion pricing to improve service and attract more riders, while Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $77 million allocation to station a police officer on every subway platform during overnight hours. Governor Hochul stated, "We cannot allow our subway to be a rolling homeless shelter." This follows her State of the State address.

Help the NYPD Solve This Case

Anyone with information is urged to contact the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) (or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish), submit a tip via their website, or DM @NYPDTips on Twitter.