Cops Arrest Suspect in Horrifying Incident in Which a Homeless Man was Set on Fire
By Dan Gesslein
Manhattan Voice
December 4, 2025
Cops arrested Hiram Carrero, 18 of West 142nd Street. He was been charged with attempted murder, three counts of assaults, arson, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.
Developing…
According to the NYPD, the incident happened around 3:05 a.m. on December 1, 2025, aboard a northbound 3 train as it pulled into 34th Street–Penn Station.
Police say a 56-year-old homeless man was riding in one of the cars when the train doors opened and an unidentified individual briefly stepped inside. Without warning, the man reportedly set the victim on fire before immediately stepping back out onto the platform. The attacker then ran off and boarded another northbound 3 train, disappearing into the system.
Emergency medical services rushed the victim to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he is being treated for significant burn injuries.
The case is eerily similar to two high profile attacks in major city subway lines. Last month 26-year-old Bethany MaGee was set on fire inside a subway car in Chicago. Cops arrested a man with a lengthy rap sheet.
Last year, a homeless woman was set on fire at a Queens subway station. Debrina Kawam, 57, died as a result of a man pouring flammable liquid on her as she slept on a train. He then set her on fire.
Sebastian Zapeta, 33, has been charged with the crime and has pleaded not guilty.
About the author:
Daniel Gesslein is the owner and publisher of Bronx Voice, Queens Voice, and Manhattan Voice, three community-focused news outlets dedicated to hyperlocal reporting across New York City. With over 30 years of experience as a journalist, Mr. Gesslein has covered a wide range of topics shaping life in the five boroughs, with his work appearing in notable publications such as the New York Post, New York Daily News, Village Voice, Real Estate Weekly, and more. His extensive reporting spans breaking news, crime, politics, health, housing, and local issues. Guided by a commitment to thorough, community-centered journalism, Mr. Gesslein continues to lead the Voice newspapers, ensuring they inform, engage, and provide a platform for New York’s diverse neighborhoods.
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