Times Square Arson Horror: NYPD Hunts Attacker Who Set Man Ablaze in Shocking Midnight Assault

The neon glow of Times Square turned into a scene of absolute terror on March 16, 2025, when a man was set on fire in a ruthless, targeted attack that has left New York City on edge. At 3:57 a.m., what should have been just another late-night moment in the city that never sleeps became a nightmare straight out of a crime thriller.

The victim, believed to be 45-year-old Brooklyn party promoter Jonathan Wright, was doused in a flammable liquid near the corner of West 41st Street and 7th Avenue before being set ablaze by an unknown assailant. Witnesses were left stunned as he ran, engulfed in flames, through the bustling heart of NYC’s most famous square.

Police officers on patrol rushed to his aid, grabbing a fire extinguisher from their vehicle, while a bystander also jumped in with another extinguisher from a passing car. The quick-thinking response saved his life, but he remains hospitalized at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, suffering from severe burns across his face and upper body.

The NYPD is now in full manhunt mode, scouring Times Square’s vast security camera network for clues. The attacker, described only as a man in blue clothing, is still on the loose. Authorities believe this was no random act—sources say the victim and attacker had a tense exchange moments before the brutal assault.

This horrifying crime comes just months after another gruesome arson attack in the city, where 57-year-old Debrina Kawam was set on fire on a Brooklyn subway train in an eerily similar attack. That case, caught on viral video, shook New York to its core—and now, with Times Square under siege, residents fear the worst.

“I’ve worked in Times Square for years, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Crusbeni Cruz, a local employee who witnessed the aftermath. “It’s like something out of a horror movie.”

With tourists and locals alike questioning their safety, the pressure is on for Mayor Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to act fast. Times Square is one of the most heavily monitored areas in the world, yet a man was burned alive in plain sight—and the attacker vanished into the crowd.

Was this a personal vendetta, or is there something far more sinister at play? The city’s top detectives are piecing together the puzzle, analyzing forensic evidence from the crime scene, including the discarded fire extinguisher and possible traces of the accelerant used in the attack.

For now, New York holds its breath, waiting for justice in a place where the lights never dim—but safety now feels dangerously uncertain.