New York police on Saturday released a photograph of a man they’d like to question in connection with a fire at a subway station on Friday that killed a train operator and injured several others, NBC New York reported.
Garrett Goble, 36, was found unconscious on the train roadbed when emergency crews responded. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
“Our conductor acted heroically to move passengers to the platform out of danger and deserves our deepest thanks and support for his bravery,” said TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano, who added that Goble had worked for the MTA for six years.
The fire started in the train’s second car, the New York Post said. Sixteen people were ultimately injured in the blaze, some of them firefighters who responded as thick black smoke escaped through grates on the street.
NYPD said three men and woman were hospitalized with smoke inhalation and were in stable condition.
Police are investigating the incident as an arson but did not say if they believe the man in the photo they released was responsible.
Sources told The Post that a badly burned shopping cart found on the train was believed to have been the source of the fire. Investigators were also checking into three smaller fires that all started at around the same time. All three were on platforms along the same train line as the fire on the subway.
Investigators were also looking into possible links to three other smaller fires that had been set on platforms also along the No. 2 line in Upper Manhattan — at 86th Street, 96th Street and 116th Street, which all started around the same time.
NYPD and MTA are offering a $52,000 reward for information leading to the arsonist’s arrest and conviction.
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[Featured image: NYPD]
