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Homeless Man Attacked, Set On Fire in East Harlem
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 5, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 5, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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A homeless man is in the burn unit of Cornell Medical Center after being viciously attacked by a group of teens. Police say that the victim was sleeping outside the Iglasia Christiana Betania on East 103rd Street when the teens "threw a gasoline-soaked towel on him."
The victim was found after midnight, and residents said they "recognized him as a homeless man who often sought food and shelter at the church." One told WNBC, "He'd just be laying around. Why would somebody do that to somebody like that?"
The victim is in critical condition, with burns on three-quarters of his body. The police are looking for three suspects.
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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