Teen Sentenced for Subway Fire That Injured Homeless Man
A 19-year-old high school senior, Hiram Carrero, was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in federal prison on Tuesday for setting a fire on a New York subway that severely injured a homeless man. The sentencing took place in Manhattan federal court, where Judge Lewis J. Liman imposed a penalty exceeding the mandatory minimum for arson. Carrero had previously pleaded guilty to the charges in March.
The incident occurred in the early hours of December 1, 2025, as part of a troubling pattern of arson attacks on public transportation systems across the United States. Prosecutors had recommended an eight-year sentence, citing the “heinous actions” of Carrero, which led to critical injuries and permanent disfigurement for the victim, who was asleep at the time.
During court proceedings, Carrero confessed to his deliberate act of lighting a piece of paper, resulting in harm to the man. Court documents revealed that Carrero attempted to kill “a sleeping, homeless man by burning him alive and leaving him trapped on a moving subway car.” The victim’s life was preserved due to a “mercifully short trip” between Penn Station at 34th Street and Times Square, allowing emergency responders to reach him swiftly.
The crime was described by prosecutors as “separated from murder by mere chance.” They also dismissed Carrero’s defense that he had been under the influence of alcohol and marijuana at the time. Defense attorney Jennifer Brown sought leniency, highlighting Carrero’s difficult upbringing, including being born prematurely with drugs in his system and being abandoned by his parents at birth.
Brown also noted Carrero’s intellectual challenges and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which disrupted his education. “Words are inadequate to express the profound shame and remorse that Hiram feels,” she stated in court.
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