Authorities said on Sunday that a man has been charged with assault, along with other charges, after he ignited a container filled with flammable liquid and hurled it at a subway passenger in New York City.
Nile Taylor, aged 49, was taken into custody on Saturday by the New York Police Department following an incident at a subway station in lower Manhattan. According to USA TODAY, Taylor allegedly hurled a flammable substance at a 23-year-old man. The police have charged him with multiple offenses, including attempted assault, assault, arson, reckless endangerment, petty larceny, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of stolen property, in relation to the two incidents.
According to the police, Taylor was also held accountable for carrying out a similar assault in early February.
According to a report by PIX 11 News, last month, authorities were on the lookout for a man who allegedly threw a cup filled with flammable liquid on fire at individuals standing on a subway platform in Manhattan on February 5th. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
New York City has witnessed a decrease in overall crime during the first quarter of 2024, as indicated by the data from the NYPD. However, the city’s subway system has experienced several violent incidents that have left residents feeling unsettled. These incidents include a series of shootings in recent months, an unfortunate incident where a train conductor was slashed in the neck in late February, and the tragic incident of a man being fatally pushed onto the tracks in March.
In March, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York made an announcement regarding the deployment of additional security measures at busy train stations, which included the dispatch of hundreds of National Guard members. Following this, the NYPD revealed that they had deployed an additional 800 officers to the subway last month, with the aim of cracking down on fare evasion.
Police: Victim sustained burns after his shirt was set on fire
According to the police, a 23-year-old subway passenger suffered burns to his upper torso when Taylor threw a flammable substance at him as the subway train was approaching the station. The victim’s shirt also caught fire due to the flaming liquid.
After the incident, the victim was swiftly taken to New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center for immediate treatment, as confirmed by the police. In an interview with the New York Post, he shared that he shielded his fiancee and cousin from the scorching liquid, bravely using his hands to extinguish the flames upon himself.
According to police sources, Taylor was apprehended shortly after the incident when authorities were able to trace the stolen phone he had allegedly taken.
A man has been charged with setting fire to a subway passenger in New York City. This alarming incident occurred recently, leaving the victim with severe burns. The suspect has been apprehended and is now facing legal consequences for his actions. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers that can be faced by individuals using public transportation systems. It is essential for authorities to continue to prioritize the safety of commuters and take necessary measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
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