NY - Female passenger died after being set on fire by man on subway - NYC - December 22, 2024

[jjenny]

Thank you. That helps.

In my opinion, trying to stop someone before they commit a crime is always going to be a practice in second-guessing because they haven't done anything yet.

But, if we wait to find out whether something bad will happen, we might be too late. It's a conundrum, to be sure.

We don't know if this killer telegraphed any clues beforehand or not. Maybe if someone saw him dumping alcohol over the woman (we don't know that happened) and then saw him reach into a pocket and pull out a lighter, they would have had cause to tackle him right then and there.

But we don't know if he did that or if anyone saw him do that. We know no one tackled him and stopped him, but what if someone had and, in the process, the killer hit his head on the floor and died?

I wish someone had been there to stop this evil man.

From what is described (at least so far) he didn't show any clues. They didn't get on the train at the same station. She was already on the train when he got on. They were sitting on different benches. He just got up and lit her on fire, which engulfed her within seconds. So unless someone is a mind reader, I don't think it would have been possible to stop it. It could change of course as we hear more. In any case, at the time he lit her on fire, there was no one else there.

 

[Rolypolyoly]

Thank you. That helps.

In my opinion, trying to stop someone before they commit a crime is always going to be a practice in second-guessing because they haven't done anything yet.

But, if we wait to find out whether something bad will happen, we might be too late. It's a conundrum, to be sure.

We don't know if this killer telegraphed any clues beforehand or not. Maybe if someone saw him dumping alcohol over the woman (we don't know that happened) and then saw him reach into a pocket and pull out a lighter, they would have had cause to tackle him right then and there.

But we don't know if he did that or if anyone saw him do that. We know no one tackled him and stopped him, but what if someone had and, in the process, the killer hit his head on the floor and died?

I wish someone had been there to stop this evil man.

From the little we have read, I feel like maybe this guy was sitting watching her and maybe smelled the alcohol on her, and just decided in that moment to see what might happen if he tried to set her alight. Like some kind of sick thought popped in his head and he just decided to act on it, and then he sat and watched.

All kinds of twisted. I find myself hoping that he does at least turn out to be mentally ill, because if not, doesn't bear thinking about that someone of sound mind would do something like this just for kicks!

 

[iamshadow21]

From the little we have read, I feel like maybe this guy was sitting watching her and maybe smelled the alcohol on her, and just decided in that moment to see what might happen if he tried to set her alight. Like some kind of sick thought popped in his head and he just decided to act on it, and then he sat and watched.

All kinds of twisted. I find myself hoping that he does at least turn out to be mentally ill, because if not, doesn't bear thinking about that someone of sound mind would do something like this just for kicks!

A lot of attacks on rough sleepers are done by people who are perfectly sane, just amoral and cruel.

MOO

 

[Rolypolyoly]

A lot of attacks on rough sleepers are done by people who are perfectly sane, just amoral and cruel.

MOO

Oh, I know. You just always hope there's another explanation, you know?

 

[lonetraveler]

For those of you who use the subway, are fire extinguishers required for each subway car?

 

[sunspun]

The first thought that popped into my head. WHY would anyone risk helping when they could be charged with a crime.

IMO, only a heartless coward would not stop to help if they saw a human being burning alive.

 

[Sundog]

From what I read, this particular train route is often used by homeless when it is cold. So the victim was most likely homeless which makes her even harder to identify.

If much time goes by and she isn't identified then I hope they can find a relative match for her using her DNA and genealogy research. It may take a long time, but it's possible. I wonder if they can determine an estimate of her age based on forensic anthropology. I would think that would be possible, and know if there is evidence of child-bearing. Perhaps she has family out there and, over time, they can find them.

 

[Sweeper2000]

Just going by the nature of what's happened I would guess this poor soul was indeed that a poor soul. The kind that stays on teh NYC train just to stay warm. I'm from London UK and I know the NYC subway is known for it. I'm wondering if that wasn't in part a reason why he did it. I would not be surprised if this individual remained unidentified and no-one came to claim her.

 

[MesquiteO21]

Rant incoming

Do we know if there were even witnesses to this crime occuring? I havent seen any bystander footage from anyone in that subway car.

Comparing this to the Penny case is apples to oranges.

The only footage I've seen of the fire was taken from outside of the subway car.

Imo the reason why no one intervened is not because of the Penny case. It was because they didn't want to run into a burning subway car.

BBM this was my thought too, although i think people are probably referring to the man filming it instead of calling 911. i can't imagine he had called 911 before he started recording since i'm pretty sure they'd want to stay on the line with him (but please correct me if i'm wrong).

in the same witness video we also see an officer walk past, which does seem a little odd. wouldn't you call/radio for help but stay close to the scene to try to keep it under as much control as you can? again correct me if i'm wrong since i'm not super familiar with emergency/first responder protocol

MOO

 

[GRT]

If much time goes by and she isn't identified then I hope they can find a relative match for her using her DNA and genealogy research. It may take a long time, but it's possible. I wonder if they can determine an estimate of her age based on forensic anthropology. I would think that would be possible, and know if there is evidence of child-bearing. Perhaps she has family out there and, over time, they can find them.

I wish they'd at least give us an approximate age, height, weight, hair color, etc., in case someone sees it and thinks...hey, that sounds a lot like Aunt Sue...

 

[Betty P]

Maybe there was no one else in that subway car?

“Police officers conducting a routine patrol at the station encountered the victim on fire inside a subway car, NYPD Det. Austin Glickman told CNN.”

“The officers “smelled and saw smoke” that prompted them to investigate, leading them to the subway car where they discovered the victim was on fire, Tisch said.”

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/22/us/nyc-subway-fire-woman-death/index.html

It doesn’t sound like there was anyone else present to even call for help, much less to help the victim?

Assume they had radios and called for help. In the video clip I saw, they just walked on past the burning woman and talked about getting help.

 

[Marysmith]

You could be right. It could be that no one was there to intervene.

But it's still a fair comparison because what happened to DP was a shot across the bow. Whether or not it was a factor in this specific incidence, it's having a societal effect. Nothing happens in a vacuum.

I'd like to get more information on the victim. Nothing I've read so far even hints at age, living status, race, etc.

Respectfully it's not a fair comparison. If someone was there and saw the attack starting and could safely intervene that's one thing... but that wasn't the case.
I don't want to start a fight but it's a fact that Jordan Neely did not start to attack anyone... yes he threw his jacket down and was yelling though and people were concerned... but certainly he was not going to set anyone on fire (he didn't have the supplies)... let's just leave it at as we all know what happened there and the outcome has been determined.

 

[10ofRods]

It is so sad that no one tried to help her.

So many of today's synthetic fabrics will go up SO quickly, though. He likely touched his lighter to more than one part of her. Almost no one would want to catch on fire, themselves, and anyone wearing flammable clothing (say a puffy coat) ought not to have sacrificed their own life, IMO. Windbreakers, puffy coats, synthetic sweatshirts. Ugh.

Yes, flames can be smothered with a coat - but not just any coat.

Long coats made of wool would be ideal - but most NYers don't wear those. Many do wear puffy coats.

Sadly @acutename difficult to know. It is so horrid when individuals do such things to harm others… apparent unsuspecting and innocent victims. SMH.

And I am neither a police officer, investigator, lawyer, therapist, or related. Just an elder parent. But I am going to indicate I suspect that the alleged assailant might have some deep self-hatred perhaps?

If the detained alleged suspect is the responsible individual, I hope there is a mirror in their cell. MOO

You are probably too kind. He more likely has the genes for antisocial behavior/sociopathy and was then raised in an environment that permitted and even encouraged those behaviors, perhaps as self-defense in a chaotic and violent environment.

 

[Sweeper2000]

Yeh thought as much.

"The woman, who is believed to have been homeless, was not thought to have been carrying an ID at the time of the attack."

Apparently he just lit her up with no accelerant. Polyester clothes must be. Brutal.

"The suspect calmly walked up to the victim, who was in a seated position at the end of a subway car,' she said. 'The suspect used what we believe to be a lighter to ignite the victim's clothing, which became fully engulfed in a matter of seconds."

That article is a bit graphic so be warned.

Tragic twist in sickening murder of woman burned alive on NYC subway

It's the latest horrific twist in the sickening murder, allegedly by Guatemalan migrant Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, who appeared at Brooklyn Supreme Court charged with murder and arson on Tuesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[DS2021]

Yeh thought as much.

"The woman, who is believed to have been homeless, was not thought to have been carrying an ID at the time of the attack."

Apparently he just lit her up with no accelerant. Polyester clothes must be. Brutal.

"The suspect calmly walked up to the victim, who was in a seated position at the end of a subway car,' she said. 'The suspect used what we believe to be a lighter to ignite the victim's clothing, which became fully engulfed in a matter of seconds."

That article is a bit graphic so be warned.

Tragic twist in sickening murder of woman burned alive on NYC subway

It's the latest horrific twist in the sickening murder, allegedly by Guatemalan migrant Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, who appeared at Brooklyn Supreme Court charged with murder and arson on Tuesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

His friends at the homeless shelter where he had been living said he was a heavy drinker who chain-smoked a synthetic drug known as K2.

K2 is synthetic "weed"

https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/spice-k2-synthetic-marijuana

 

[Aegon_the_Conqueror]

What would be possible to do to help in this situation unless you have a fire extinguisher or a fire blanket (which people don't normally carry with them). It'd be really hard to put the fire out without a fire blanket or a fire extinguisher. If you try to use clothing to stop the fire it can just fan the flames.

A jacket. Only guy I saw doing anything was fanning her with a washcloth. Do subway cars and stations not have fire extinguishers? I'm almost certain I've seen some type of fire safety equipment (can't remember what they were off hand).

 

[Sweeper2000]

A jacket. Only guy I saw doing anything was fanning her with a washcloth. Do subway cars and stations not have fire extinguishers? I'm almost certain I've seen some type of fire safety equipment (can't remember what they were off hand).

The guy fanning her was the guy who set her on fire.

 

[KooshBall]

I purposely haven't watched any video of the fire but today while I was scrolling on FB, a video automatically played and I saw the woman standing and on fire. It was so disturbing, looked like a mannequin on fire. I wish I hadn't seen it. So she was able to stand up before being completely consumed by flames? How was she able to stand for so long while on fire?

 

[Cryptic]

Maybe someone could have stopped him before he lit the fire.

Maybe.

But.... he evidently lit the fire with out alot of drama in the way of erratic behavior, threats and dousing with flammable liquids etc.. As a result some of those present might not have realized what he was doing.

 

[jjenny]

A jacket. Only guy I saw doing anything was fanning her with a washcloth. Do subway cars and stations not have fire extinguishers? I'm almost certain I've seen some type of fire safety equipment (can't remember what they were off hand).

Dude fanning her with something was the suspect. And fanning her isn't going to do anything good, it is only going to fan the flames. Fanning the fire provides it with more oxygen, it's not going to be helpful, it will only make the fire worse. Realistically, if people who don't know what they are supposed to be doing tried to help, it could make the situation even worse. Such as making the fire worse, spreading it around, or getting injured themsleves.