Toronto woman burned at Kipling station died Tuesday morning: TPS

The woman who was burned at Kipling Station in Toronto last month passed away Tuesday morning around 9:30 a.m., Toronto police tell CityNews.

The incident happened mid-day on June 17, when a woman in her 20s was set on fire in what Toronto police called a random attack.

Investigators said a man poured a liquid substance on the woman before igniting it and starting a fire. Const. Alex Li noted that police are investigating an alleged interaction between the woman and man before the violent incident.

A 33-year-old, identified as Tenzin Norbu of Toronto, was arrested and faces several charges, including attempted murder and assault with a weapon.

The victim’s sister, Dawa, created a GoFundMe, which has been frozen on Tuesday. On the fundraising platform, she updated her condition, saying the woman — a caregiver — remained in hospital on life support with “full-thickness burns.”

“On June 17, my sister was on her way to work as a professional caregiver when she was attacked by a stranger who threw lighter fluid on her and set her on fire,” Dawa wrote. “This was a random hate act at the hands of a stranger at the Kipling station in Toronto, Canada.”

Emergency crews are on scene at Kipling Station after a man set a woman on fire on June 17, 2022. (CityNews Toronto/Mark Douglas)

Dawa and her family describe her sister as a woman who has “lived a life of service to others.” The GoFundMe has surpassed $6,000 as of Tuesday with a goal of $25,000.

In a statement to CityNews, a spokesperson for the family in part, “The family truly appreciates the overwhelming support they have received from the community so far.”

“At this point, we really need support from all of you on her long journey ahead,” she wrote. “Please help us with what you can and pray with us for her recovery.”

TTC boosted patrols in the wake of attack, investigation ongoing

Toronto Mayor John Tory and TTC President Rick Leary both commented in the aftermath of the incident, with Tory calling it a “shocking criminal act that shouldn’t happen anywhere in our city.”

Leary said at the time that the TTC was “always looking at ways to improve safety for both customers and employees,” noting that officials were recruiting new special constables and boosting safety patrols at various stations.

The transit commission’s President also mentioned an effort to modernize stations and install more cameras with additional staff visible to deter criminal acts.

“I know incidents like this are concerning for our customers — and I share that concern. Safety is paramount to all we do, and I am committed to ensuring the TTC remains as safe as possible,” Leary said.

“We move hundreds of millions of customers every year without incident, but we cannot and do not take that for granted.”