Three high school basketball players hailed as heroes for helping capture subway arson suspect Sebastian Zapeta-Calil have been denied the $10,000 reward promised by the NYPD. The teens, who made a 911 call that directly led to the suspect’s arrest, were told they were ineligible for the reward because they didn’t use the Crime Stoppers hotline, as per the program’s rules.
The three boys, Navid, Kingson, and Christos, were traveling on a Queens-bound F train on Dec. 22 when they spotted Zapeta-Calil, who was accused of setting a homeless woman, Debbie Kawam, 57, on fire. Acting quickly, Kingson dialed 911, and the NYPD apprehended the suspect after stopping the train.
Despite their pivotal role in the arrest, the boys learned that the reward only applies to tips submitted via the 1-800-577-TIPS hotline. This revelation has left their families and supporters outraged, with many accusing the system of being overly bureaucratic and unfair.
Criticism from families and officials
“This is such B.S. Most people call 911 in emergencies. These kids shouldn’t be penalized for doing the right thing,” said Navid’s father, who asked to remain anonymous. “They didn’t do it for the money, but it’s disappointing to see their courage dismissed on a technicality.”
City Council Member Susan Zhuang, who recently honored Kingson for his bravery, echoed the sentiment. “These teens deserve the reward. Denying them is wrong. They acted in good faith and ensured a dangerous individual was apprehended. This is the behavior we should encourage,” Zhuang stated.
Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, also condemned the decision. “The NYPD is running these kids through bureaucratic mumbo jumbo. They called 911, and the suspect was caught. That’s what matters. This sends the wrong message to others who might come forward to help.”
Reward policy loopholes
The NYPD’s Crime Stoppers program is supported by the New York Police Foundation and offers rewards for tips that lead to arrests and indictments in violent crime cases. However, the rigid stipulation that tips must come through the hotline has drawn criticism.
While there have been cases where rewards were given for tips made through 911 calls, such instances are handled on a case-by-case basis, often resulting in partial rewards. In this case, the NYPD has stood firm, stating that the boys’ actions, while commendable, did not meet the criteria for the advertised reward.
Families fight back
The families of the teens remain determined to challenge the decision. Christos’ mother, who plans to unite with the other parents, stated, “These boys did their civic duty. They deserve recognition and the promised reward. We’re going to fight this together.”
The parents emphasized that the boys acted selflessly, unaware of the $10,000 reward until after they had already helped catch the suspect. Kingson’s sister, Rita, recalled how proud her brother was after realizing their actions led to the arrest. “Initially, he was scared, but later he felt really proud. He knew he helped prevent further harm.”
The importance of encouragement
Advocates argue that honoring these teens with the reward would send a powerful message about the value of civic engagement. Curtis Sliwa warned that the current outcome could discourage others from stepping forward in similar situations. “This is good money, not bad money. People need to know that their actions can lead to real rewards when they help solve crimes,” Sliwa said.
Unfinished dreams
The teens had already dreamed of how they would spend the money, with plans to use the majority for college tuition. Christos and Navid even suggested allocating a larger share to Kingson, who made the decisive 911 call.
For now, the families hold onto hope that the NYPD and city officials will reverse the decision. Until then, their story serves as both an inspiration and a cautionary tale about the challenges of navigating bureaucratic systems, even when doing the right thing.
