A man was hospitalized with burns across his face after being set on fire in a horrific Times Square arson attack early on Sunday morning.
Police sources reported that officers assigned to the Midtown South Precinct just happened to be in the right place at the right time when they turned on 41st Street and 7th Avenue at around 3:57 a.m. on March 16 and discovered a 45-year-old man on fire.
The quick-thinking officers rushed to their vehicle, retrieved a fire extinguisher from the trunk, and doused the man until the fire was out.
FDNY and EMS rushed to the scene, loaded him into an ambulance, and rushed him to Cornell Hospital, where he is expected to survive.
Authorities report that moments earlier, an unidentified man wearing blue clothing had poured flammable liquid onto the victim, then set him ablaze. The reason for the heinous attack remains unclear.
Based on statements made by the victim and video captured on NYPD body camera footage, police believe the perpetrator knew the victim.
The assault comes mere months after Debrina Kawam, 57, was set on fire and burned to death while she slept on a Coney Island F train on Dec. 22. Migrant Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was arrested and charged with using a lighter to set her ablaze.
As for Sunday’s incident, no arrests have been made in the ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this incident can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (formerly Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
This story was updated at 3:18 p.m.
