A disturbing incident unfolded as a college student allegedly ignited a man while he was asleep on a train.
The suspect, Hiram Carrero, 18, was taken into custody following the severe injuries inflicted on the passenger during a journey in New York City. Carrero was detained by District Judge Valerie E Caproni, who expressed shock at the severity of the act, questioning why a young high school student would engage in such a heinous act in the early hours of the morning.
The incident occurred around 3 am on Monday when the teenager reportedly set fire to a piece of paper near the 56-year-old passenger aboard a northbound train at the 34th Street—Penn Station stop close to Madison Square Garden and Macy’s flagship store in midtown Manhattan. Carrero is expected to face an arson charge and will have a court appearance in January to enter his plea.
Photographic evidence has emerged allegedly showing Carrero setting the man ablaze. Moments later, the victim managed to reach the platform at the next station, 42nd Street—Times Square, with his body on fire. Prompt action by police officers extinguished the flames, and the injured passenger was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.
Prosecutor Cameron Molis highlighted the life-threatening nature of the incident, with the victim’s survival hanging in the balance. Carrero, who is still attending college, reportedly fled the scene immediately after the alleged crime, leaving the injured passenger unattended.
The defense attorney for the teenager mentioned that Carrero cares for his disabled mother and takes care of her needs, including accompanying her to medical appointments. The mother was present at the arraignment but chose not to engage with the media.
If convicted, Carrero could face a minimum of seven years in prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 4, subject to cancellation if prosecutors opt for a grand jury indictment before that date.
Despite the seriousness of the accusations, defense lawyer Jennifer Brown emphasized Carrero’s lack of criminal history and the support of his mother. However, the decision to release Carrero to home confinement with electronic monitoring, mental health assessment, and drug testing was overturned by Judge Caproni during a late-night session as Carrero’s legal team contested the ruling.
In a bid to maintain the release order, Brown pointed to reports suggesting the victim may have been responsible for setting himself on fire. The case reflects a trend of prosecutors dealing with similar incidents, such as a recent case in Chicago where a man set a woman on fire on a train and a tragic incident in Brooklyn where a woman lost her life after being ignited while sleeping on a subway train in December 2024.