A homeless man who police say was set on fire while sleeping on a New York City subway car has been reunited with his family.
“I can’t get those images out of my head”
Victim James George’s son shared a photo of them at the hospital Sunday, saying the family had been looking for him for weeks and just learned about his whereabouts.
“I can’t get those images out of my head of my father being set on fire,” Jay Armani said. “I heard about what happened on the train station and whatnot, but never in a million years, nobody just thinks that’s going to be their family member and whatnot.”
Jay Armani
George is unhoused and it took about a week for his family to learn of his condition.
“I was so happy to see my father, but at the same time, like, all these mixed emotions and I can smell the burns and it hurts seeing the open wounds and whatnot. It was tough. It was really tough,” Armani said.
George’s family said he has already had one surgery and will need another. He was unable to speak to CBS News New York due to the severity of his injuries, and Armani said even with the first surgery, his father’s body is having trouble healing and his leg may need to be amputated.
He added there is no guarantee that his father will survive.
“I finally got to see the burn marks, you know? I don’t know man. We gonna see. We gonna see,” Armani said.
Sleeping man set on fire on NYC subway train
The attack happened shortly after 3 a.m. on Dec. 1 on a northbound 3 train in midtown Manhattan. Police said the victim was asleep on the train when it pulled into 34th Street-Penn Station, where the suspect briefly stepped onto the train and set the victim’s pants on fire.
The victim remained on the train until it pulled into 42nd Street-Times Square, and an MTA worker flagged down first responders.
Police arrested 18-year-old Hiram Carrero, of Manhattan, days later on charges of attempted murder, arson, assault and criminal mischief in the attack.
“As alleged, Hiram Carrero committed a horrific arson, starting a fire inside of a New York City subway car where a victim was sleeping,” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in a statement after Carrero’s arrest. “As a result of that arson, the victim has suffered severe injuries. The New York City subway is the heart of our City, with millions of people who live and work here relying on it every day. New Yorkers have the right to be safe and feel safe when they ride the subway, and our Office is committed to that result.”
Armani had a message for the accused.
“I can’t judge nobody. Only God can do that. I’m trying not to judge and anything, but you … broke my family’s heart and we all hurting right now and all because of you and your foolishness,” Armani said.
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