Man horrifically burned in Times Square attack, authorities search for suspect

In a shocking incident early Sunday morning, a 45-year-old man was set on fire in the heart of Times Square, leaving him severely burned. The attack occurred around 4 a.m. at the intersection of West 41st Street and Broadway. Authorities believe the assailant used a glass Patron tequila bottle to pour an accelerant on the victim before igniting the flames.

Video footage from the scene shows the victim, shirtless and covered in burns, huddling in pain under a blue blanket while being tended to by first responders. The disturbing images capture the man as he is placed in an ambulance for emergency treatment. The video also reveals the police questioning a female companion of the victim at the scene, although her connection to the attack is unclear.

Witnesses reported that the victim ran approximately 100 feet while on fire before a passerby doused him with a fire extinguisher. The victim was then transported to New York Presbyterian Cornell Hospital, where he is currently in stable condition. Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack, but it remains unclear whether the victim and attacker knew each other.

Authorities recovered a small glass Patron bottle from the scene, which they believe was used to carry the accelerant. Fire marshals also noted that the suspect fled the scene heading north on Broadway. Police are seeking nearby security footage to identify the suspect but have yet to make any arrests.

A Brooklyn woman who works nearby described the area as “pretty scary” in the early hours, noting that there is a lack of police presence on the side streets of Times Square before 8 or 9 a.m. According to her, police are typically only seen on the main avenues, directing tourists. The worker, Anne Lee, also remarked that she recognized the victim as someone she had seen around the area before.

The authorities continue to investigate the incident, with the goal of identifying and apprehending the suspect. The NYPD is urging anyone with information or possible video footage from the area to come forward. As the investigation unfolds, the community remains shaken by the violent attack in one of the city's busiest districts.