An 18-year-old Harlem resident has been charged in federal court after police say he set a sleeping subway rider on fire inside a Manhattan train car early Monday morning.
According to federal prosecutors, the attack happened around 3 a.m. aboard a northbound 3 train pulling into Penn Station. The victim, a 56-year-old man whose name has not been released, was asleep when the suspect briefly stepped onto the train, ignited the man’s clothing, and fled.
Victim Suffered Severe Burns
The victim awoke to his legs engulfed in flames and managed to exit the train one stop later, at Times Square–42nd Street, where responding officers extinguished the fire. He was rushed to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in critical condition and continues to receive treatment for “significant burn injuries,” authorities said.
There were no other passengers in the car when the attack occurred.
18-Year-Old Facing Federal Arson Charge
The suspect, identified as Hiram Carrero, was arrested and charged in Federal District Court for arson resulting in injury, a serious offense that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum of up to 40 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Carrero appeared in court Friday wearing street clothing with his long dark hair tied back. His attorney, Jennifer Brown, told the court he is a high school senior and the primary caretaker for his mother, who suffers from serious medical conditions.
Carrero has not yet entered a plea.
A Violent Act Amid Ongoing Transit Safety Concerns
The early-morning attack adds to a series of high-profile violent incidents on NYC public transit in recent years, intensifying concerns among riders and officials about safety in the subway system — especially during late-night hours.
Law enforcement officials say the investigation is ongoing and have not released additional details on motive or prior interactions between the suspect and victim.
