A man has been charged with first-degree murder for allegedly setting a sleeping woman on fire while she was on a New York City subway train. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, faces serious charges including first- and second-degree murder and arson related to the shocking incident that took place on an F train in Coney Island, Brooklyn over the weekend.
Zapeta was apprehended shortly after the crime on Sunday morning. According to police reports, three teenagers recognized him from images released by the NYPD and alerted authorities. Surveillance footage revealed him watching as the woman was engulfed in flames.
The tragic event unfolded around 7:30 a.m. when the unidentified woman was attacked while asleep on the subway. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the suspect used a lighter to ignite the victim’s clothing, which caught fire rapidly. Officers at the station responded to reports of smoke and found her in critical condition, but despite their attempts to extinguish the flames, she sadly died at the scene.
Intriguingly, while initially remaining at the scene, Zapeta was seated nearby, making it easier for officers to identify him based on the detailed footage from their body cameras. After receiving a tip from the teens who spotted him, the police arrested him at another subway station just hours after the horrific incident. At the time of his arrest, he was wearing the same clothes as depicted in the earlier descriptions and was found with a lighter in his possession.
Zapeta is reportedly in the U.S. illegally, having returned to the country after being deported to Guatemala in 2018. His presence in the U.S. raised some concerns regarding immigration laws, and officials are now launching an immigration detainer against him.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez condemned the act as “horrific” and emphasized the importance of safety on public transportation, affirming that justice will be pursued for this senseless act of violence against a vulnerable individual.
This case highlights the crucial role that vigilant citizens can play in public safety, as evidenced by the young witnesses who acted quickly in notifying the authorities. Their actions might lead to swift justice and reinforce the importance of community involvement in the face of crime.
In a society where public safety can sometimes feel uncertain, this incident serves as a painful reminder but also reiterates that collective vigilance and response can lead to bringing offenders to justice, ensuring that such tragic incidents do not go unpunished.