Man, 39, in critical condition after suspect sets him on fire in downtown Honolulu
A 39-year-old homeless man suffered life-threatening injuries after an unknown suspect poured an accelerant on him and ignited it while the victim was sleeping in the doorway of a building in downtown Honolulu early today, police said.
The suspect set the victim on fire in the doorway of a business building at 1300 Pali Highway near Longs Drugs at about 5:45 a.m., according to police.
“That guy was completely in flames. He was just screaming,” said a witness who declined to give her name. It happened so fast, she added. “It was shocking.”
The witness alerted a nearby police officer as the victim ran across the building in a panic and took off his jacket. Other witnesses were yelling to get water and instructing the man to drop and roll on the ground to put out the flames.
A black jacket was observed on the ground on the mauka side of the building.
Honolulu firefighters and Emergency Medical Services personnel also responded to the scene.
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The victim sustained multiple second-degree and third-degree burns to his face, upper body and limbs. Police said he was taken in critical condition to a hospital.
Honolulu police have opened an attempted murder investigation. There are no arrests at this time.