NEW YORK, NY – The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office has announced the indictment of a man accused of kidnapping a woman and setting her on fire.
A 28-year-old Brooklyn man has been arraigned today on an indictment charging him with first- and second-degree murder, kidnapping, and other charges after allegedly tying a woman to a chair and lighting her on fire in a Cypress Hills apartment.
Several hours prior to the attack, the defendant was allegedly caught buying twine, a lighter, and lighter fluid from a nearby bodega.
Lashawn Duffie, 28, of Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, was identified as the defendant by the District Attorney. On an indictment charging him with first- and second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and second- and third-degree robbery, he was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun.
If convicted, he could face a life sentence without parole.
District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “The brutal and completely senseless murder of an innocent woman, allegedly perpetrated by this defendant, shocks the conscience. This kind of depraved conduct will not be tolerated in Brooklyn, and we are committed to seeking justice on behalf of the victim and her loved ones.”
Based on the investigation, the defendant accused his former girlfriend, Surgery Ramirez, 40, of stealing and selling his comic books outside an apartment located at Livonia Avenue in Cypress Hills on November 11, 2022, at approximately 12:30 a.m.
After leaving the apartment, the defendant went to a bodega around the corner, where video surveillance showed him buying twine, lighter fluid, and a lighter with cash he had stolen earlier from Ramirez’s friend.
As part of the investigation, the defendant allegedly assaulted Ramirez at approximately 3:50 a.m. He tied Ramirez to a chair with twine, poured lighter fluid over her, lit a match, and left her to burn. In the aftermath of the attack, the defendant allegedly threw his shirt, a lighter, and documents bearing the victim’s name into a dumpster. A firefighter found the victim’s burned body at the scene. The New York City Medical Examiner determined she died from severe burns and homicide.