An 18-year-old man, Hiram Carrero, has been charged with arson resulting in injury following an incident in a New York City subway car. Allegations detailed in a complaint state that during the early hours of December 1, Carrero entered a train at the 34th Street – Penn Station stop, purposely set fire to paper near a sleeping victim, then fled as the train doors closed, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York announced.
The act of arson, which took place around 3:03 a.m., resulted in the victim engulfed in flames, suffering from severe leg injuries as the train approached the 42nd Street – Times Square station, there law enforcement immediately responded to provide aid and the victim was subsequently rushed to the hospital in critical condition, according to the same source. The swift collaboration between ATF, NYPD, and FDNY, led to Carrero's arrest, shedding light on the potent synergy among these agencies when a crisis unfolds and the commitment to city dwellers' safety, whether above or below the architectural veins that keep the city pulsing.
"As alleged, Hiram Carrero committed a horrific arson, starting a fire inside of a New York City subway car where a victim was sleeping," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, highlighting the gravity of the event that represents a stark violation of the sanctuary New Yorkers consider their public transit to be. NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch added, "This attack is among the most serious acts of violence a person can commit, and it has no place in our city—above or below ground," suggesting a fierce repudiation of acts that threaten the metropolis's intricate social fabric, which in recent months has seen significant safety improvementsw, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Carrero has been charged with a serious federal crime that carries a substantial potential penalty—a mandatory minimum of seven years and a maximum of 40 years imprisonment, as detailed in the charges, which although hefty, are merely accusations until proven in court, where the outcome will be determined by the presiding judge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Molis is in charge of the prosecution.
