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NYPD searching for 3 people they say set a homeless man on fire at Penn Station
By
Charles Lane
Published Mar 3, 2026
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Timothy Clary/Getty Images
By
Charles Lane
Published Mar 3, 2026
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Police said they're searching for three people who set a homeless man on fire while he was sleeping in the Amtrak rotunda beneath Madison Square Garden Monday night.
Three men approached the 37-year-old as he slept on the floor of the rotunda near 33rd Street and Eighth Avenue at around 8:40 p.m. and set his clothes ablaze before running from the scene, according to NYPD officials.
EMS workers arrived and extinguished the flames before transporting the man to the burn unit at New York Presbyterian Hospital, where he is in stable condition, officials said.
No arrests have been made and police said the investigation is ongoing. Police described one of the men as wearing a black jacket and blue jeans, another in a brown jacket and gray pants, and the third in all black.
An Amtrak spokesperson said Amtrak police are working with the NYPD to investigate the incident.
A man accused of setting another homeless person on fire late last year faced federal charges, as Penn Station is owned by Amtrak.
Tagged
public safety
transportation
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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