Sebastian Zapeta is accused of intentionally setting Debrina Kawam on fire on a stopped F train in Brooklyn's Coney Island station. Prosecutors say he fanned the flames with a shirt and watched as she burned. Kawam, 57, died from her injuries. Zapeta faces multiple murder charges and an arson charge.
Sebastian Zapeta is accused by prosecutors of lighting Debrina Kawam on fire on a stopped F train at Brooklyn ’s Coney Island station one Sunday morning, then fanning the flames with a shirtinside a New York City subway train by a man who allegedly lit her on fire and stayed to watch the aftermath, officials said Tuesday.
“This was a malicious deed. A sleeping, vulnerable woman on our subway system,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said after a brief court hearing where the indictment was announced last week.He said Zapeta has been charged with multiple counts of murder as well as an arson charge. The top charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. The indictment will be unsealed on Jan. 7.Zapeta, who federal immigration officials said is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S.
Overall, crime in the subway is relatively rare, with trains and platforms generally as safe as any other public place in New York City. Police data shows major crimes were down this year through November, compared to the same period in 2023.
NYC Subway Arson Murder Brooklyn
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