A 38-year-old woman is recovering after police say she was deliberately set on fire inside her apartment at the Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights on Saturday evening.
According to police, officers responded to the NYCHA development around 5 p.m. and found the woman suffering burns to her face, neck and back.
Police sources say rubbing alcohol was used to start the fire.
Family members identified the woman as a mother and say her young daughter witnessed the attack. They also told News 12 that the victim is pregnant.
While police describe the woman as being in stable condition, relatives say she is not doing well. They added that her unborn baby is stable.
Sources tell News 12 the person responsible may be the victim’s current or former boyfriend. Family members, speaking off camera, said the man has a history of violence and that they fear for their own safety.
Residents in the Crown Heights community say they are struggling to process what happened in a neighborhood they describe as typically quiet.
One resident called the incident “a shock,” while another said the violent act is unimaginable.
"You see it on TV," said another resident. "But to literally hear it in your neighborhood — this is a quiet neighborhood. I've never experienced anything like that."
As of Sunday, no arrests have been made. However, police say they know who they are looking for and the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the NYPD.