NEW YORK (AP) — Police say a woman burned to death in the elevator of her New York City apartment building after a man ambushed her, sprayed her with liquid and set her afire with a Molotov cocktail.
Police spokesman Paul Browne says the unidentified man was waiting for the woman when the elevator doors opened to her floor of the Brooklyn building Saturday afternoon.
Browne says the unidentified woman was returning with grocery bags when the elevator doors opened to the fifth floor and she was sprayed by the assailant. The woman tried to protect herself, but the man sprayed her directly in the face. After spraying her again, the suspect used a lighter to ignite a rag in a bottle and set her aflame. Police are searching for the suspect, who they say knew his victim.
Update: NEW YORK (AP) — Police say they are questioning a man in connection to the death of a New York City woman set on fire in the elevator of her apartment building. New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said Sunday that the 47-year-old man went into a police precinct a couple of miles from where the attack happened in Brooklyn and said he had started a fire. Authorities say the man has made statements implicating himself and came in overnight reeking of gasoline. He hasn't been charged. Doris Gillespie burned to death in the elevator Saturday afternoon. Police say a man was waiting for her, sprayed the 64-year-old woman with accelerant and set her on fire with a Molotov cocktail. Police have said they believe the suspect knew Gillespie.
