Homicide investigation underway after woman set on fire at Kipling Station dies of injuries

A Toronto woman who was set on fire at Kipling Station last month has died of her injuries.

Toronto police tell CityNews the victim, a woman in her 20s, passed away around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday after 19 days in the hospital. Police also confirm the homicide unit has taken over the investigation.

The incident happened on June 17, when a man doused a woman with a flammable liquid substance on a TTC bus and lit her on fire in what police called a random attack. Police say they are investigating an alleged interaction between the woman and man before the violent incident.

The victim suffered second and third degree burns as a result of the attack. The incident is still being investigated as a hate-motivated crime

Tenzin Norbu, a 33-year-old from Toronto, was arrested and faces several charges, including attempted murder, assault with a weapon, common nuisance endangering the lives, safety or health of the public, and mischief over $5000 interfering with property.

The charges against the suspect will likely be upgraded in light of the victim’s death.

Toronto police and emergency crews are on scene at Kipling Station after a woman was lit on fire by a man June 17, 2022. (CityNews Toronto/ Mark Douglas)

The victim’s sister, Dawa, created a GoFundMe, which was frozen on Tuesday. Dawa and her family describe her sister as a woman who has “lived a life of service to others.” The GoFundMe had surpassed $6,000 as of Tuesday with a goal of $25,000.

“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.”

In an updated statement on the GoFundMe page following the victim’s death, the family says they will use the donations “for upcoming funeral expenses and healthcare costs to date.”

“To my sister, we love you and we miss you. We wish her soul to rest in peace,” reads the statement.

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.”