A man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly setting a woman on fire while she slept on a New York City subway.
Sebastian Zapeta, 33, faces charges of first and second-degree murder and arson following the horrific incident on an F train in Coney Island, Brooklyn, over the weekend.
According to police, the attack occurred Sunday morning at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station. Zapeta allegedly used a lighter to ignite the victim’s clothing, which quickly became engulfed in flames.
Officers responding to the scene attempted to extinguish the fire, but the woman died at the site. Police confirmed that Zapeta and the victim, who remains unidentified, did not know each other and had no prior interaction.
Zapeta was apprehended hours later at the 34th Street-Herald Square station after three teenagers recognized him from photos released by the NYPD and called 911.
Surveillance footage and body-worn cameras captured Zapeta sitting on the platform and watching the victim burn. When arrested, he was reportedly wearing the same clothing as seen in the footage and had a lighter in his possession.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials revealed that Zapeta is a Guatemalan citizen who illegally reentered the U.S. after being deported in 2018. ICE plans to issue an immigration detainer against him.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez condemned the attack as “gruesome and senseless,” pledging to seek justice. “Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe on our subways,” he stated. Zapeta, who resides at a men’s shelter in East New York, is expected to be arraigned soon.
