Story by Ethan
On December 22nd, 2025, the arrest of Ahmad Mossad, age 23, was announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg. Ahmad Mossad was charged with first-degree Attempted Murder and first-degree Assault. The arrest and charges against Ahmad Mossad were a result of an investigation handled by Detective Lauren Helmeset of the Midtown South Precinct Detective Squad, Detectives Blair Fauntleroy and Joseph Cohen of Manhattan South Homicide, and Police Officers Jonathan Chau and Kelly Tuechler of the 111th Precinct.
According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Ahmad Mossad worked as a food cart vendor located in Times Square between Broadway and Seventh Avenue on West 41st street. On March 16th, 2025, Ahmad Mossad was working his cart at the aforementioned location at approximately 3:50 a.m. when he was approached by the victim. The two individuals had a brief interaction with each other before the victim left and Ahmad Mossad began walking up and down the street shortly after pouring gasoline into a water bottle. The victim would end up passing by Ahmad Mossad and his cart again and would end up leaving after a second confrontation. Allegedly Ahmad Mossad found the victim after he left and set him on fire using the bottle of gasoline and a lighter. The victim who was set ablaze ran through the streets screaming for help when two NYPD officers put the fire out and transported him to a local hospital. The victim was put in a medically induced coma for several weeks while being treated for both second and third-degree burns spanning across approximately 20% of his body. Ahmad Mossad would travel to Egypt after the incident and remain there for over eight months, before being arrested by the NYPD upon returning to the United States on November 25th, 2025.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Ahmad Mossad are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
