A man wearing a mask tossed a Molotov cocktail into a Bronx deli on Tuesday, resulting in serious burns for employees, police and family members report.
The incident occurred around 10:10 p.m. on West 183rd Street, near Jerome Avenue in Fordham Heights. A 33-year-old employee suffered severe burns on his face and body due to the flames, according to law enforcement sources.
Authorities mentioned that the male suspect, believed to know the victim, fled the scene and remained at large as of late Wednesday.
A relative, who introduced himself as Mizzy, claimed that several young individuals were involved in the assault.
“To put it simply, a group of young kids dressed up and threw Molotov cocktails,” Mizzy explained. “It’s an old-school tactic, but they managed to ignite everything here.”
“I was right here with a friend when everything happened,” Mizzy recounted. “I watched as the cocktail hit the floor and exploded, and then I pulled my cousin out.”
“His skin was just peeling off,” he added. “He was physically on fire. They had to wrap him in a blanket to put it out.”
Fire officials reported that the victim was transported to Jacobi Medical Center and is in serious but stable condition.
The fire escalated to a second alarm and took about an hour to bring under control, according to the FDNY.
Mizzy described the arson as “outrageous” and “unexpected,” highlighting that his cousin is well-known in their neighborhood.
“He’s been a part of this community for a long time,” Mizzy said. “Everyone loves him. He’s like family here.”
Interestingly, he also noted that his cousin may not have been the intended target of the attack.
The fire also affected nearby businesses, including bakeries, clothing shops, and laundromats.
Cheo Vasquez, who owns a laundromat, stated, “We need to wait for the insurance to assess everything. We’re looking at repairs for the roof and more… it’s hard to say how long it’ll take to rebuild.”
