A person of interest is in custody, and charges are pending after a horrifying incident on Sunday morning where a woman was set on fire aboard a subway train in Brooklyn, resulting in her death.

The NYPD responded to the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station shortly before 7:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a woman in distress. According to authorities, the 33-year-old suspect approached the victim on the F train and used a lighter to ignite her clothing.

MTA surveillance cameras, now installed in every subway car, played a pivotal role in documenting the crime. Footage captured the chilling moment when the victim, who may have been asleep, was set ablaze.

“What they saw was a person standing inside the train car fully engulfed in flames,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Despite efforts to extinguish the flames with a fire extinguisher, the woman succumbed to her injuries at the scene.

The suspect, described as a Guatemalan citizen who has been in New York since 2018, was apprehended thanks to public assistance. After the NYPD released images from the surveillance footage, a group of high school students recognized the man on another train and promptly called 911.

“Our transit sergeant responded to that location, met with these young high school students, looked inside the train, and saw an individual that he recognized from wanted fliers,” NYPD Transit Chief Joseph Gulotta explained.

The suspect was taken into custody without incident, and charges are currently pending.

Commissioner Tisch emphasized the critical role of the MTA’s comprehensive surveillance system in quickly identifying the perpetrator. “The cameras are a game changer,” she said. The system not only captured clear images of the suspect but also allowed authorities to disseminate his photo rapidly, leveraging the public’s assistance as a “force multiplier.”

The disturbing attack has sparked renewed conversations about subway safety in New York City, as well as the importance of community vigilance. The high school students who helped identify the suspect have been praised for their quick thinking and bravery.

The NYPD continues to investigate the incident, which has left the community shocked and grieving over the senseless loss of life.