An 18-year-old student has been accused of a horrifying attack after allegedly setting a sleeping passenger on fire aboard a New York City subway train.
Details of the Alleged Attack
Hiram Carrero, who is still in high school, was arrested last Thursday following the incident in the early hours of Monday morning. Prosecutors claim that at around 3am, Carrero ignited a piece of paper and dropped it near a 56-year-old man who was sleeping on a northbound train. The location was the 34th Street—Penn Station stop in midtown Manhattan, close to Madison Square Garden and Macy's flagship store.
Photographic evidence is reported to show Carrero committing the act. The victim, with his legs and torso ablaze, managed to stumble onto the platform at the next station, 42nd Street—Times Square. Police officers quickly extinguished the flames, and the severely burned man was rushed to hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
Legal Proceedings and Bail Battle
Appearing in court, Carrero heard District Judge Valerie E Caproni emphasise the "heinousness of the crime" as she remanded him into custody. "It’s hard for me to understand why an 18-year-old young man who’s in high school is out at 3 o’clock in the morning setting people on fire," Judge Caproni stated.
Prosecutor Cameron Molis told the court that "the victim very well could have died in this case." The court heard that Carrero allegedly fled the scene after the attack, taking a bus home while his victim lay stricken.
His defence attorney, Jennifer Brown, acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but argued for his release, noting he is a young man with no criminal record who lives with and cares for his disabled mother. A magistrate judge initially approved home confinement with electronic monitoring, but District Judge Caproni reversed that decision during an appeal hearing on Friday.
Broader Context and Next Steps
Carrero faces a minimum of seven years in prison if convicted on the arson charge. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 4, though it may be cancelled if prosecutors secure a grand jury indictment before that date. He is next due to appear in court to enter a plea in January.
This disturbing case emerges amidst other similar violent incidents on public transport in the United States. Last month, federal authorities in Chicago charged a man with dousing a woman in gasoline and setting her alight on a train. In December 2024, a woman sleeping on a subway train in Brooklyn was killed after a stranger ignited her clothing.
