Police have identified the woman who was set on fire in a deadly attack in New York City as 35-year-old Kimberly Druell. The shocking incident occurred on Tuesday morning in the borough of Queens, leaving Druell with severe burns over 90% of her body.
According to authorities, the suspect in the case is Druell’s ex-boyfriend, 39-year-old Tyrone Tarpley. Tarpley allegedly doused Druell with a flammable liquid before setting her on fire in a parking lot near the corner of 194th Street and 27th Avenue. Witnesses reported hearing Druell screaming for help as she tried to extinguish the flames engulfing her body.
Despite the efforts of bystanders and emergency responders, Druell succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Tarpley was apprehended by police a short time later and is currently facing charges of murder and arson in connection with the brutal attack.
The motive behind the horrific crime remains unclear, but authorities believe it may have been related to a domestic dispute between the victim and the suspect. Druell’s friends and family have expressed shock and grief over her untimely death, describing her as a kind and caring person who did not deserve such a violent end.
The tragic incident has once again brought attention to the issue of domestic violence and the need for greater awareness and resources to support victims of abuse. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an estimated 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fearfulness, post-traumatic stress disorder, use of victim services, contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, etc.
As the investigation into Kimberly Druell’s death continues, authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to come forward and assist in bringing her killer to justice. In the meantime, friends and loved ones are mourning the loss of a vibrant and beloved member of their community, taken too soon in a senseless act of violence.