A man is under arrest for charges of murder and arson in New York City, accused of igniting a woman on fire inside a subway train and observing her demise as she was consumed by flames, according to police reports from Monday.
Authorities have named the suspect as Sebastian Zapeta, who was apprehended mere hours after the woman’s death occurred on Sunday morning. Zapeta, aged 33, is a citizen of Guatemala who entered the U.S. unlawfully following his removal in 2018, as confirmed by Jeff Carter, a spokesman for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured Zapeta approaching the woman, who appeared to be motionless — possibly asleep — on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn. He allegedly set her clothing ablaze, according to police.
Commissioner Jessica Tisch of the New York City Police Department remarked that the woman’s clothing “became fully engulfed in a matter of seconds,” while the suspect remained on a bench nearby, watching her burn until police and a transit worker arrived to extinguish the flames.
Tragically, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene, although her identity has not yet been disclosed by the authorities. Tisch described the incident as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being.”
Later on the same day, police apprehended Zapeta while he was using the same subway line, following a tip from a group of high school students who recognized him from images released by authorities.
The timeline of Zapeta’s re-entry into the U.S. after his removal approximately six years ago remains unclear. In a statement, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez emphasized, “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.”
Details regarding whether Zapeta has legal representation or when his arraignment will occur have not yet been made available. Furthermore, an address linked to him matches a service center operated by Samaritan Daytop Village, which offers housing and support for substance abuse, although the organization did not provide immediate comments when approached.
This year, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has deployed National Guard members to assist city police in conducting random bag checks for weapons on the subway system following a number of high-profile incidents. Recently, additional personnel were dispatched to enhance patrols during the holiday season.
About a year ago, Hochul backed funding for the installation of video cameras on every train car within the New York subway system. Michael Kemper, chief security officer for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, noted that these cameras significantly aided in quickly locating the suspect.
