A man has been charged with murder and arson in New York City for allegedly igniting a woman’s clothing while she was on a subway train and watching her succumb to the flames, as reported by authorities on Monday.
The individual, who police identify as Sebastian Zapeta, was apprehended mere hours after the woman’s tragic death, which occurred on Sunday morning.
At 33, Zapeta is a Guatemalan national who entered the United States illegally following his previous removal in 2018, according to a spokesperson from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to surveillance footage, the suspect approached the woman, who appeared to be immobile and possibly asleep, on a stationary F train at Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station in Brooklyn, igniting her clothing on fire. Authorities noted that her clothes “became fully engulfed in a matter of seconds,” as stated by New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Meanwhile, Zapeta allegedly remained on a nearby bench on the platform, observing the scene while police and a transit worker worked to extinguish the flames.
The woman was declared deceased at the scene, but authorities have withheld her identity pending notification of family members.
Tisch described this incident as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being.”
Later on Sunday, police arrested Zapeta while he was on the same subway line, acting on a tip from a group of high school students who recognized his image from circulated police photos.
The timeline and location of Zapeta’s return to the U.S. after his previous removal remain uncertain.
In a statement, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez expressed the horror surrounding this event: “The depravity of this horrific crime is beyond comprehension, and my office is committed to bringing the perpetrator to justice.” He added, “This gruesome and senseless act of violence against a vulnerable woman will be met with the most serious consequences.”
Current information about whether Zapeta has legal representation or the date of his arraignment remains unclear.
A Brooklyn address linked to Zapeta corresponds to a service center run by Samaritan Daytop Village, which offers housing and support for substance abuse issues, but the organization has yet to make a comment on the situation.
In response to a series of violent incidents on the city’s subway, New York Governor Kathy Hochul this year deployed members of the National Guard to assist police in conducting random searches of riders’ bags for weapons. Recently, she reinforced this initiative by sending additional personnel for enhanced patrols during the holiday season.
Approximately one year ago, Hochul endorsed funding to equip every subway train car in New York City with video surveillance. Officials, including Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chief Security Officer Michael Kemper, credited the surveillance cameras with aiding in rapidly identifying the suspect in this case.
