NEW YORK — An individual has been formally charged with murder and arson in connection with the tragic death of a woman who was reportedly set on fire while sleeping on a subway train in New York City, according to prosecutors who released this information on Friday. The authorities are still in the process of identifying the victim of this distressing crime.
Sebastian Zapeta is alleged to have ignited flames while the woman was asleep on an F train that was halted at the Coney Island station in Brooklyn early Sunday morning. Following the ignition, he is accused of using a shirt to fan the fire, resulting in the woman becoming engulfed in flames. Reports claim he then sat on a nearby platform bench, passively observing the harrowing incident unfold.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez described the act as a “malicious deed,” noting the victim was a “sleeping, vulnerable woman on our subway system.” The charges against Zapeta include several counts of murder alongside an arson charge, with the most serious accusation potentially leading to a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The specifics of the indictment are set to be revealed on January 7.
The 33-year-old Zapeta was not present for the hearing, and his attorney opted not to speak to the media afterward. Authorities reported that Zapeta, a Guatemalan national who allegedly entered the United States without authorization, was detained later on Sunday. During police interrogation, he reportedly claimed ignorance of the events, attributing his recollection difficulties to his alcohol consumption, even while he confirmed his identity in photographs and surveillance footage documenting the incident.
Initially facing murder and arson charges through a criminal complaint, those filings represent a common preliminary stage in New York’s legal proceedings. In New York, felony cases typically necessitate a grand jury indictment for further progress unless a defendant chooses to bypass this process.
Prosecutor Gonzalez stated that law enforcement and medical examiners are actively seeking to identify the woman through fingerprint analysis and advanced DNA testing, as well as reconstructing her movements leading up to the tragedy. “Our hearts go out not only to this victim, but we know that there’s a family,” Gonzalez expressed. He emphasized that regardless of her apparent homelessness, her family would inevitably feel the impact of this horrific loss.
Authorities released information indicating that an address linked to Zapeta corresponds with a shelter that offers housing and support for substance abuse. Federal immigration officials mentioned that he had been deported in 2018 yet managed to return to the U.S. unlawfully afterward.
In a move reflecting the severity of the situation, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has instructed police to collaborate with the investigative team from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in reviewing potential federal arson charges against Zapeta.
Gonzalez underscored the significance of the state charges, asserting that they may lead to more stringent repercussions. He expressed trust in Brooklyn’s residents and jurors, emphasizing that the crime took place in their community and should thus be deliberated by them.
This tragic event has reignited discussions surrounding safety within the extensive New York City public transit system. While criminal activity in the subway remains infrequent, police statistics indicate that major crimes were lower this year through November compared to the same period in 2022.
However, there has been a distressing rise in homicides, jumping to nine cases this November, up from five during the same timeframe last year. This statistic excludes the woman who lost her life in this fire and another man who was fatally stabbed at a subway station in Queens on the same day.
Incidents involving stabbings and violent acts are contributing to heightened anxiety among subway riders in a city where millions rely on the transit system daily. “When you have these incidents, it overshadows the success and it plays on the psyche of New Yorkers,” Adams noted in a televised interview, referencing how many high-profile incidents often involve individuals grappling with mental health challenges.
