Subway murder suspect accused of fanning flames that engulfed woman, faces life sentence

By TopTrendReportTv

December 24, 2024

NEW YORK — A man accused of fatally burning a woman on a New York City subway train used a shirt to intensify the flames, completely engulfing her in fire, a prosecutor revealed during his arraignment on Tuesday. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, faces murder and arson charges that could result in life imprisonment without parole.

VIDEO IN GRAPHIC VIDEO SECTION

Zapeta, identified as a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally, did not enter a plea or speak during his appearance in Brooklyn criminal court. Dressed in a white jumpsuit over a black hooded sweatshirt, he remains in custody and is scheduled to return to court on Friday. His attorney, Ed Friedman, did not request bail or comment on the charges.

Zapeta is charged with two counts of murder—one for intentionally killing the woman and another for committing murder during an act of arson—as well as a separate arson charge. The most serious charge carries a potential sentence of life without parole.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez described the attack as a “gruesome and senseless act of violence” and vowed to pursue the harshest consequences.

The attack occurred on Sunday morning on an F train stopped at the Coney Island station. Authorities are still working to confirm the victim’s identity.

According to police, Zapeta approached the woman, who may have been asleep, and set her clothing on fire using a lighter. Prosecutors allege that he fanned the flames with a shirt, causing her to become fully engulfed in fire. Afterward, Zapeta reportedly sat on a nearby bench and watched as the woman burned.

Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg stated in court that Zapeta later identified himself in surveillance images of the attack, though he claimed he did not know what happened.

Bystanders captured video of the incident, showing people on the platform and at least one officer walking by as the woman burned inside the train. NYPD officials said officers responded to the scene, securing the area and attempting to extinguish the fire. Despite their efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Zapeta was apprehended later that day while riding a train on the same subway line. Police credited teenagers with recognizing him from circulated images.

Officials revealed that Zapeta had been deported in 2018 but reentered the U.S. illegally. He had been living at a Brooklyn shelter providing housing and substance abuse support.

The shocking crime has reignited concerns about subway safety, exacerbated by graphic footage of the incident spreading on social media. While overall transit crime has decreased by 6% compared to last year, murders on the subway have risen, with nine reported this year through November compared to five during the same period in 2022.

The attack underscores the challenges of policing New York’s extensive subway system, which spans 472 stations with multiple levels, platforms, and entry points. The incident comes just weeks after a Manhattan jury acquitted former Marine Daniel Penny in the chokehold death of an agitated subway rider, a case that also raised questions about safety, homelessness, and mental health in the transit system.