Sebastian Zapeta, the 33-year-old man accused of fatally setting a woman on fire on a Brooklyn subway train, is scheduled for arraignment today. A grand jury has indicted him on one count of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and one count of arson following the horrific incident involving 57-year-old Debrina Kawam, originally from Toms River, New Jersey, as reported by ABC7NY.
Authorities allege that Zapeta, who supposedly entered the United States illegally after a 2018 deportation, ignited the fire on December 22 on the F train at the Coney Island station. According to FOX 5 New York, after setting Kawam ablaze, he supposedly used a shirt to fan the flames before sitting on a bench, and passively observed the victim burn. Zapeta acknowledged to police his appearance in the surveillance footage but claimed a lack of memory due to his alcohol consumption.
Zapeta's forthcoming court appearance follows his prior arraignment on a criminal complaint. His case, like all New York felony cases,, requires a grand jury indictment to advance to trial unless the defendant waives that right. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez's office indicated last month that Zapeta had been indicted.
Interestingly, despite this brutal event, officials report a downward trend in subway crimes for the second consecutive year, as per police data showing a 5.4% decrease compared to 2023, as detailed by FOX 5 New York. Nevertheless, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch expressed at a press conference that despite the statistical decline, subway passengers are still feeling unsafe. In response to these concerns,, the department intends to add over 200 officers to patrols on subway trains and increase presence on the platforms of high-crime stations, Tisch explained, since "78% of transit crime occurs on trains and on platforms."
