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By Sophie Clark
Live News Reporter
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What's New
A woman who was set on fire on the New York City Subway on Sunday is being compared to the case of Daniel Penny, who was prosecuted for placing an allegedly threatening subway passenger in a fatal chokehold.
The woman, who has not yet been named by police, was motionless on an F train at Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday when the suspect allegedly used a lighter to set her clothes on fire, engulfing her in flames and killing her, New York Police Department (NYPD) Detective Austin Glickman said that evening.
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One viral post on X, formerly Twitter, said that the woman "didn't have a Daniel Penny to save her." The post has been viewed more than 800,000 times since Sunday evening.
Far-right MAGA activist Laura Loomer also said: "Too bad a Daniel Penny wasn't there to stop it."
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Why It Matters
Sunday's attack occurred amid ongoing efforts to improve safety on the New York subway.
Some people are now calling for more vigilante justice, saying that this killing on the F Train would not have happened if someone like Penny were on the train.
Penny was acquitted on December 9 of murder and manslaughter charges after putting Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold on May 1, 2023.
According to bystanders, Neely was asking for money, screaming that he was hungry, and lunging at a woman and her child when Penny stepped in.
Defenders of Neely said that Penny's acquittal was racist, and that while Neely was clearly unwell, he did not deserve to die for lashing out and having a mental health crisis.
What To Know
It is unclear whether anyone else was on the train at the time of Sunday's alleged killing.
NYPD officers were present at Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station, however they were on the upper level and only discovered what had happened when they went to investigate the train after smelling smoke.
The suspect was apprehended after photos were disseminated of the suspect by the NYPD. He was recognized by three high school-aged New Yorkers, who called the police.
Following news of this attack, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said: "Our brand-new security cameras helped law enforcement find the suspect and arrest him."
What People Are Saying
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said this crime was "one of the most depraved crimes one person could commit against an innocent human being."
Governor Hochul said: "Make no mistake: any crime is one too many, even with subway crime going down. We are continuing to surge personnel and resources to make our subways safer."
What Happens Next
The suspect was taken into custody by the NYPD. The NYPD is working on identifying the victim.
Update 12/23/24 11:50 a.m.: This article has been updated throughout with additional information.
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