It happened in an instant. A quiet Friday afternoon in Brooklyn turned into a nightmare that New York City is still trying to process years later. When people search for information regarding the woman on fire subway victim, they are usually looking for the tragic story of Petrona Williams. She wasn't just a headline or a statistic. She was a mother, a caregiver, and a woman whose life was stolen in one of the most senseless acts of violence the MTA has ever seen.
The details are visceral. On a Friday in 1995, a man named Edward Leary boarded a subway train. He wasn't looking for a seat. He was carrying a glass jar filled with gasoline and a series of homemade incendiary devices. It sounds like a movie plot. It wasn't. It was real life on the 4 train.
The Day the Subway Stood Still
Most New Yorkers treat the subway like an extension of their living room. You zone out. You read. You scroll—well, back then, you read the paper. Petrona Williams was doing exactly that, just commuting, minding her own business. Then the world exploded. Leary detonated his devices near the Fulton Street station. The fire didn't just spread; it hunted.
Petrona was caught directly in the line of fire. She suffered horrific burns over most of her body. People often ask why this specific case stuck with the city for so long. Honestly? It's the sheer randomness of it. You can be careful. You can watch your back. But how do you prepare for someone walking onto a train with the express intent of turning a subway car into a furnace?
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She didn't die immediately. That's the part that really haunts the people who remember the case. She fought. For weeks in the burn unit at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, Petrona Williams clung to life. The city watched the news updates every night. We all hoped for a miracle. We didn't get one.
Who Was Petrona Williams?
We talk a lot about the "victim," but we rarely talk about the person. Petrona was 50 years old. She was a Jamaican immigrant who had moved to the United States to build a better life for her family. She worked as a home health aide. Think about that for a second. Her entire career was dedicated to taking care of people who couldn't take care of themselves.
The irony is brutal.
She spent her days providing comfort, only to meet an end defined by unimaginable pain. Her family described her as the pillar of their world. When she passed away from her injuries, it wasn't just a loss for them; it was a blow to the immigrant community in Brooklyn that saw her as a success story.
The Motivation Behind the Madness
Edward Leary wasn't a criminal mastermind. He was a disgruntled former computer analyst who was angry at the world. He claimed he was trying to extort the MTA. He thought that by setting off bombs, he could scare the city into paying him off. It was a delusional, selfish plan that had zero chance of working.
During the trial, the defense tried to play the insanity card. They talked about his mental state, his frustrations, his "breakdown." But the jury didn't buy it. They saw the calculation. They saw the jars of gasoline. You don't accidentally prep a firebombing kit.
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Why This Case Changed New York Transit
If you look at how the NYPD and the MTA handle "suspicious packages" today, a lot of those protocols were written in the blood of victims like Petrona Williams. Before the mid-90s, subway security was... let's just say it was different. It was more about fare beating and graffiti. This attack forced a shift toward counter-terrorism and rapid response for chemical or incendiary threats.
- Increased Surveillance: The shift toward more cameras in stations began accelerating after these types of "soft target" attacks.
- Plainclothes Officers: The presence of undercover transit police became a staple of the system to spot erratic behavior before a device is deployed.
- Public Awareness: The "See Something, Say Something" campaign didn't exist yet, but the seed was planted here.
The Legal Aftermath and Justice
Leary was eventually convicted of second-degree murder and dozens of counts of attempted murder. He was sentenced to 94 years to life. Basically, he was never going to breathe free air again. Judge Michael Gary, who presided over the case, was blunt. He called Leary’s actions "depraved."
But does a life sentence bring back a mother? No.
The legal victory felt hollow for the Williams family. They had to deal with the medical bills, the funeral costs, and the gaping hole in their lives. There was a settlement later on involving the MTA, but no amount of money fixes the trauma of knowing your loved one died because of a jar of gasoline and a lighter on a Tuesday afternoon.
Lessons in Urban Safety
Looking back at the woman on fire subway victim case, there are actual, practical takeaways for anyone living in a major city. It's not about living in fear. It’s about situational awareness.
First, trust your gut. In many of these historical attacks, witnesses later said they saw the perpetrator acting strangely or carrying something odd. They didn't want to be "rude" or "paranoid," so they didn't move. If someone looks like they’re struggling with a heavy, odd-smelling container on a train, move to the next car. Just do it.
Second, know your exits. In a subway fire, smoke is the real killer. Petrona died from burn complications, but many others in that car were nearly suffocated. Modern cars have better ventilation, but the old advice still stands: stay low, move away from the source, and never try to pry open doors between moving cars unless it’s the absolute last resort.
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The Psychological Toll on Commuters
We don't talk enough about the collective PTSD New York suffers. Every time there’s a "smoke condition" on the tracks or a loud pop in a station, people jump. This incident, along with the later 2022 Sunset Park shooting, reinforces the idea that the subway is a place of vulnerability.
But here is the thing. Millions of people ride those trains every day. The statistical likelihood of being involved in a fire attack is incredibly low. Yet, for Petrona Williams, the statistics didn't matter. She was the 1 in a million.
How to Support Transit Safety and Victims
If this story moves you, don't just close the tab. There are ways to actually impact the safety of our public spaces and support those who have been through similar horrors.
- Advocate for Mental Health Resources: Many transit attackers have long histories of untreated mental illness. Supporting community-based mental health initiatives can prevent these "lone wolf" incidents before they reach a subway platform.
- Support Victim Compensation Funds: Organizations like the National Center for Victims of Crime help families navigate the financial ruin that follows a random act of violence.
- Stay Informed, Not Afraid: Read the annual MTA safety reports. Know which stations are getting upgraded lighting and communication systems. Use your voice at community board meetings to demand better security in high-traffic hubs.
The story of the woman on fire subway victim is a tragedy, but it's also a reminder of the resilience of the people who keep this city running. Petrona Williams was one of those people. She was a worker. She was a mother. She was a New Yorker. We owe it to her memory to stay vigilant and to keep demanding a city where a simple commute doesn't turn into a sacrifice.
Actionable Steps for Transit Safety
- Download the "MTA Shield" or local transit safety app: Most major cities now have apps that allow you to discreetly report suspicious activity with photos or text without alerting the person nearby.
- Identify the "Conductor Car": If you feel unsafe, ride in the middle of the train where the conductor is located. They have immediate radio access to emergency services.
- Learn Basic First Aid for Burns: In the event of an incendiary attack, knowing how to properly treat a thermal burn (and knowing not to put ice or butter on it) can save a life in the minutes before EMTs arrive. Use cool running water and clean cloths only.
- Maintain Digital Awareness: Keep one earbud out. It sounds simple, but being able to hear a commotion or an announcement three seconds earlier can be the difference between getting off at the right stop or getting trapped in a dangerous situation.