A horrific incident unfolded at a Brooklyn subway station when a woman was set on fire by a man, leaving the city shaken.
The attacker, 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, allegedly set the victim alight while she was sleeping on the F train early on a Sunday morning, just before 7:30 AM.
Authorities have charged Zapeta-Calil with first-degree murder and arson.
Disturbing footage from the scene showed the attacker calmly watching as the woman burned, with the victim later found leaning lifeless against the train door.
A Shocking Discovery
The woman who was attacked has not yet been identified.
In the chilling footage, the attacker, dressed in a hoodie, sat on a bench nearby and appeared unfazed by the tragic scene.
As the woman was consumed by flames, Zapeta-Calil even seemed to fan the fire, while other bystanders filmed the horrifying event.
Despite the severity of the situation, several New Yorkers failed to intervene, and police officers, who were also on the scene, did not take immediate action to stop the attack or help the victim.
The Police Response Sparks Outrage
The video footage of the subway incident ignited outrage online, particularly due to the police’s apparent lack of response.
In one of the videos, an officer walks past the scene, gesturing in exasperation but not intervening.
Many social media users were quick to criticize the police for what they perceived as a ‘cowardly’ and ‘shameful’ response.
Some even called for the officers involved to be named and fired.
“The police officer should have acted to help. This is the oath they take,” one person wrote, while another said the cop should face consequences for their failure to act.
The Arrest and Investigation
Zapeta-Calil, who was later revealed to be in the U.S. illegally, had previously been deported from Arizona in 2018. His re-entry into the country remains unclear.
After the attack, he boarded the F train again and continued his journey.
However, high school students recognized him from police photos circulating online and alerted authorities.
This led to his detention at York Street Station in Brooklyn after officers tracked him down using surveillance technology.
Dramatic videos of his arrest were shared widely on social media.
A Detailed Look at the Crime
At a press conference, NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch provided further details about the crime.
She confirmed that detectives believe Zapeta-Calil and the victim did not know each other.
He reportedly used a lighter to ignite the victim’s clothing, causing the fire to spread rapidly.
The victim was fully engulfed in flames before officers arrived at the scene.
Despite their efforts, the woman died on the platform. Authorities later confirmed that Zapeta-Calil was found with a lighter in his pocket and was wearing the same distinctive clothing as seen in the surveillance footage.
This case has raised significant concerns about both the police response and the safety of New York’s public transportation system.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident as Zapeta-Calil faces serious charges for the horrific crime.
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