18-year-old high school senior charged with arson for setting New York subway passenger on fire

An 18-year-old high school senior has been federally charged with arson after allegedly igniting a subway passenger in New York early Monday morning. Authorities claim Hiram Carrero set a piece of paper on fire and dropped it near a 56-year-old man on a northbound 3 train passing 34th StreetPenn Station, resulting in serious injuries, according to the Department of Justice.

The victim stumbled onto the 42nd StreetTimes Square platform with flames visible on his legs and torso, surveillance footage revealed. Emergency responders quickly extinguished the fire, and the man was hospitalized in critical condition.

Carrero reportedly boarded the train briefly before fleeing and later taking a bus to Harlem, as noted in a criminal complaint. He was apprehended Thursday in Harlem, where his lawyers stated he lives with and cares for his disabled mother.

This incident adds to a series of deliberate attacks on public transportation in U.S. cities in recent years, including similar arson cases in New York and Chicago targeting both passengers and transit workers.

Following an appeal against a magistrates decision to allow home confinement, U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni ordered Carrero detained, citing the extreme severity of the act. Carrero did not enter a plea at his Manhattan federal court arraignment. His mother attended but declined to speak to reporters.

Defense attorney Jennifer Brown described the allegations as extremely serious but emphasized that Carrero is a young man with no prior criminal record who is responsible for caring for his mother.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated, New Yorkers deserve to feel safe while using the subway, and our office is committed to ensuring that safety. New York Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch added, This is one of the most serious forms of violence, and it has no place in our city.

If convicted, Carrero faces a minimum sentence of seven years in prison. A preliminary hearing is set for January 4. The case is being prosecuted at the federal level because a federal task force conducted the investigation and no state charges are involved.

Author: Riley Thompson