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Chicago’s Homeless ‘Walking Man’ Lit on Fire While Lying Down

Joseph Kromelis, 75, sustained burns on almost half of his body and is, according to one police officer, unlikely to survive.

A 75-year-old homeless man was drenched in flammable liquid and lit on fire in downtown Chicago early Wednesday morning, police said. Joseph Kromelis is a well-known figure among the city’s homeless population who often walks around the downtown area; hence his nickname, “Walking Man.” Kromelis was lying down and asleep when a suspect, who authorities say was caught on surveillance cameras going into the city’s metro system, lit him on fire. Kromelis sustained burns on almost half of his body before a security guard from a nearby building put the blaze out with a fire extinguisher. A local police officer said he was told Kromelis, who is in critical condition, is unlikely to survive. Nearly six years ago to the day, Kromelis was attacked by someone with a baseball bat.