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45-year-old man lit on fire in heart of Times Square, NYPD says
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
and
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Mar 16, 2025
Modified Mar 17, 2025
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Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
and
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Mar 16, 2025
Modified Mar 17, 2025
Share
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A 45-year-old man was set on fire in Times Square early Sunday morning by an attacker who is still on the loose, according to the NYPD.
Police officials said officers responded to a call at 3:57 a.m. about a man on fire at West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue, in the heart of the busy tourist district. The NYPD said the attacker set the man, later identified as Mark Whyte, ablaze after a dispute before fleeing.
Officials also said the two men knew each other, according to statements captured on body camera footage.
Video posted to social media shows the victim in an ambulance with visible burns on his body, neck and face. He was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Cornell Hospital and is in stable condition, police said.
Jonas Young-Borra said he knows Whyte from the nightlife scene. He was on his way home from an event early Sunday morning when he saw Whyte on fire — and said he only realized afterwards who it was.
“He’s a very nice guy. Nobody deserves this,” Young-Borra told Gothamist on Monday. “Random violence in NYC needs to end.”
Police had announced no arrests in the case by late Monday morning. and the incident remained under investigation.
This story is based on preliminary information from police and has been updated with additional details.
Tagged
new york city
Times Square
public safety
manhattan
Ramsey Khalifeh
Ramsey Khalifeh is a transportation reporter on the NYC Accountability desk covering the largest transit system in the country. He was previously a general assignment reporter at Gothamist and worked on the Boston Globe's metro and copy desk. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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