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Homeless Man Set on Fire in Penn Station, 3 Suspects Sought

Published 4 March 2026

A 37-year-old homeless man was set on fire while sleeping in New York City's Penn Station on Monday evening, prompting police to search for three suspects who fled the scene, authorities said.

The incident occurred around 8:40 p.m. in the Amtrak Rotunda area of the transit hub, located on West 33rd Street near Eighth Avenue. According to New York Police Department officials, the victim was lying on the floor when three individuals approached him. One of them ignited his clothing, causing a small fire that first responders quickly extinguished. Emergency medical workers transported the man to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell's burn unit, where he was treated for second-degree burns to his arm and back. Officials described his injuries as non-life-threatening, and he remained in stable condition as of Tuesday.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene as flames briefly engulfed the victim. "You look up above the escalator, there's a gentleman on fire, flames completely engulfed, he's running back and forth trying to get it out, people are trying to pat him down," said one observer, who added that the man then moved into the rotunda and rolled on the ground to help smother...

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