A disturbing incident on the New York subway has left many shaken.
Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old man, has been charged with murder and arson after allegedly setting a woman on fire in a subway car.
The tragic victim, Debrina Kawam, 57, was attacked while she was sleeping on a train at Coney Island station in Brooklyn on December 22, 2024.
Details of the Attack
According to prosecutors, Zapeta set Kawam on fire while the train was stopped, before using a shirt to fan the flames.
Shockingly, he then sat on a bench at the station and watched as she burned.
The horrific nature of the crime was captured on video and quickly spread online, showing an NYPD officer walking past the scene without intervening.
A man, believed to be Zapeta, can be seen casually observing the fire.
The entire court hearing, which took place on January 7, 2025, lasted only five minutes.
Zapeta pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his next court date was set for March 12.
After his arrest, Zapeta reportedly claimed he had been drunk at the time and had no memory of the event.
National Outrage and Legal Debate
The case has sparked national outrage, particularly regarding the rise in crimes committed by illegal immigrants in the U.S. According to ICE, Zapeta entered the country illegally from Guatemala in 2018, was deported, and later re-entered the country unlawfully.
The attack on Kawam has added fuel to the ongoing debate over immigration and crime in the U.S.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has called for federal charges to be brought against Zapeta in addition to the state charges.
“Lighting another human being on fire and watching them burn alive reflects a level of evil that cannot be tolerated,” Adams said in a statement.
However, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez argued that the case should remain in state court.
He emphasized that first-degree murder charges carry the possibility of life without parole in state court, which he believes is more significant than federal charges.
“We have a very strong working relationship with our federal partners,” he said, “but we strongly believe this case belongs in the state court.”
Ongoing Investigation and Community Response
Zapeta was eventually recognized and arrested after high school students saw his image online.
His actions have deeply disturbed both local and national communities, drawing attention to issues of crime, immigration, and justice.
As the case moves forward, it is likely to remain a focal point in the debate over how to handle crimes committed by undocumented individuals in the United States.
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