Homeless Man Lit on Fire, Police Say
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Police are searching for three teenagers who critically injured a homeless man by lighting him on fire early this morning in Spanish Harlem, police officials said.
After the teenagers approached the unidentified 49-year-old victim at about 12:15 a.m. as he was sleeping on a cardboard box in front 133 E. 103rd St., they stood over him and lit his pant leg on fire, police and a witness said.
The victim then quickly stood up, causing the flames to engulf his entire body, the witness said.
The unidentified teenagers, who the witness said had rummaged through the victim’s pockets before lighting him on fire, fled the scene before police arrived.
The victim, who sustained severe burns to his face, chest, arms, and stomach, was rushed to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition, police said.
