A tragic incident occurred on the F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station in Brooklyn, where a woman was fatally set on fire while she appeared to be asleep. The somber event took place at around 7:30 am on a Sunday. According to the New York Police Department, a man approached the woman and ignited her clothes with a lighter before escaping the scene.
The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta, was apprehended later that day after students from a nearby high school recognized him from surveillance footage circulated by police. Authorities reported that he had fled the subway car just as officers, quickly responding to the report of the blaze, arrived at the scene. Despite the officers’ best efforts to extinguish the flames with fire extinguishers, the woman was pronounced dead by emergency responders.
NYPD officials noted that no interaction had taken place between the suspect and the victim prior to the attack, and it is believed they did not know one another. Notably, Zapeta is a Guatemalan citizen who had previously been removed from the U.S. in 2018; however, it’s important to contextualize that studies indicate immigrants, including those undocumented, tend to commit violent crimes at lower rates compared to citizens.
Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the act as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being.” The subway system, which sees about four million passengers daily, has had relatively low rates of violent crime. So far in 2024, there have been nine reported homicides on the subway, a slight increase from five during the same period in the previous year.
In a broader context, this incident has sparked conversations around immigration enforcement and crime, especially as right-wing politicians have used violent crimes involving undocumented immigrants to advocate for stricter immigration measures.
While this horrific act has raised concern, it serves as a reminder of the community’s role in addressing crime. The quick actions of civilians who reported the suspect highlight the importance of vigilance and community engagement in maintaining safety.
Overall, even amidst this tragedy, there is hope in the community’s response, showcasing the resilience and unity of New Yorkers in the face of adversity.