NEW YORK — During a recent arraignment, authorities revealed that the individual accused of fatally setting a woman ablaze on a New York City subway train used a shirt to fan the flames. This information was presented by a prosecutor on Tuesday as Sebastian Zapeta faced murder charges.
The 33-year-old Zapeta, identified as a Guatemalan national who reportedly entered the U.S. unlawfully, did not enter a plea nor speak during the hearing held at Brooklyn criminal court. Dressed in a white jumpsuit layered over a worn black hoodie, Zapeta remains in custody at Rikers Island and is scheduled to return to court on Friday. His attorney did not request bail on his behalf.
Zapeta is facing two counts of murder: one for allegedly deliberately causing the woman’s death and another for committing murder during the act of arson. Additionally, he is charged with arson. The most serious charge carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez described the violent incident as “gruesome and senseless,” emphasizing that such acts will be met with severe repercussions.
The attack, reportedly random in nature, occurred on Sunday morning on an F train halted at the Coney Island station. The identity of the victim is still pending confirmation. According to authorities, Zapeta approached the woman, who might have been asleep, and ignited her clothing using a lighter. He allegedly intensified the fire by using a shirt to fan the flames, fully engulfing her in fire, as noted by Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg in court. Following the arson, Zapeta reportedly sat on a subway platform bench and observed the scene.
In court, it was mentioned that during his questioning, Zapeta claimed ignorance of the events yet recognized himself in images captured during the incident. His public defender, Andrew Friedman, refrained from addressing the press following the arraignment.
Footage circulating on social media seemingly captured individuals watching from the platform, with at least one police officer walking past while the victim was on fire inside the train. NYPD Transit Chief Joseph Gulotta later stated that multiple officers reacted to the fire, with one officer remaining to preserve the crime scene while others retrieved fire extinguishers. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted that officers on a higher level of the station had smelled smoke and discovered a person engulfed in flames. Although the fire was extinguished, it proved too late to save the woman, who was declared dead at the scene.
Zapeta was arrested in the afternoon following the incident while he was on a train along the same subway line, identified by teenagers who recognized him from police images. Police records show Zapeta is linked to a shelter in Brooklyn that offers housing and substance abuse assistance. Federal immigration officials have noted that he was deported in 2018 but returned to the U.S. unlawfully.
This tragic incident has increased anxieties among some New Yorkers regarding subway safety, further fueled by disturbing video footage shared on social media. Twenty-two-year-old Deandre Nelson expressed feeling deeply unsettled by the events. In contrast, twenty-four-year-old Collin Burroughs mentioned that it did not significantly alter his routine, only leaving him feeling saddened.
Overall, statistics indicate a decline in major felonies within the transit system as compared to the previous year. Reports from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority show a 6% decrease in such crimes from January to November. However, there has been an increase in homicides, with nine cases so far this year compared to five during the same period last year. Notable incidents have also occurred, including an encounter in September where police inadvertently shot bystanders while engaging a suspect wielding a knife.
There are challenges in policing the extensive subway network, which includes numerous trains operating across 472 stations with multiple entry points and levels at many locations.
