In a disturbing incident, Sebastian Zapeta has been charged with murder and arson following the death of a woman who was ignited on a Brooklyn subway train. The victim's identity remains unknown, as authorities continue their investigation.
Man Indicted on Murder and Arson Charges in Brooklyn Subway Blaze
Man Indicted on Murder and Arson Charges in Brooklyn Subway Blaze
Sebastian Zapeta is charged with murder and arson after a woman was set on fire aboard a subway train in New York City.
Prosecutors have formally charged 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta in connection with the tragic death of a woman set ablaze on a New York subway train. The indictment includes serious charges of murder and arson, as Zapeta remains in custody without bail.
During a recent court hearing, Zapeta did not appear, but he faces accusations of igniting the woman's clothing, possibly while she was asleep, and subsequently intensifying the fire with a shirt. The unnamed victim's brutal assault occurred at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station on a Sunday morning, with police stating that there was no prior interaction between her and Zapeta.
Initial investigations revealed that the woman was seated on a still train when Zapeta approached her with a lighter, igniting her clothing without any known motive. Despite the fast response from officers on patrol, who extinguished the flames, the woman succumbed to her injuries on the spot.
Authorities noted that Zapeta remained at the scene briefly, sitting on a bench even as police rushed to intervene. His face was captured by police body cameras, aiding in his identification when three high school students recognized him from images disseminated by law enforcement.
Originally from Guatemala, he had previously been deported in 2018 but managed to re-enter the country illegally. In statements made during a preliminary hearing, Zapeta claimed he had been drinking and did not remember the incident, yet he acknowledged his identity in video evidence presented to authorities.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has called for federal charges to accompany the state-level accusations, expressing that such inhumane actions should not be tolerated. A vigil was held for the victim, whose burns have complicated identification efforts by the police, with reports indicating ongoing attempts to confirm her identity through fingerprint and DNA analysis. Zapeta is scheduled to return to court on January 7.
