NEW YORK –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 said.
Police spokesman Paul Browne said the unidentified man was waiting for the woman when the elevator doors opened to her floor of the Brooklyn building Saturday afternoon.
Browne said 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 said knew his victim.