A man has been formally charged in connection with the horrific death of a woman who was set on fire aboard a New York City subway train, as authorities continue to seek justice for the unidentified victim.
NYC Subway Arson and Murder Suspect Indicted
NYC Subway Arson and Murder Suspect Indicted
Sebastian Zapeta faces murder and arson charges for setting a woman ablaze on a Brooklyn subway train.
A man has been charged with murder and arson following a tragic incident on a New York City subway train that left a woman deceased after she was set on fire. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, has been in custody since his arrest shortly after the event took place on Sunday morning at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station in Brooklyn.
During a brief court hearing on Friday, Zapeta was indicted; however, he did not appear in person. The charges stem from allegations that he ignited the clothing of an apparently unaware woman who may have been asleep on the train, using a lighter while also feeding the flames with a shirt. The identity of the victim remains unknown, and authorities are making efforts to identify her through fingerprints and DNA.
Witness reports indicate that there was no prior interaction between Zapeta and the victim, and investigators believe that they were strangers before the attack commenced. Although police officers managed to extinguish the flames, the victim succumed to her injuries at the scene. Zapeta reportedly left the train before emergency personnel arrived but was captured on police body cameras. Witnesses, including three high school students, later recognized him from images circulated by the police.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced at a press conference that this incident is regarded as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being.” She noted that the suspect had remained at the scene briefly, seated on a bench as officers responded.
In recent statements, NYC Mayor Eric Adams has called for federal authorities to impose additional charges of arson alongside the existing state-level charges. He emphasized that actions like "lighting another human being on fire" reflect a "level of evil that cannot be tolerated."
Due to the severity of the burns, verifying the victim's identity has posed a challenge, which has led to erroneous and misleading information circulating online, including fake AI-generated images. As prosecutors continue their case, Zapeta is scheduled to return to court on January 7th.
