Subway Crime Escalates as Stabbing Suspect with 87 Prior Arrests Strikes Again

In a shocking incident, a 33-year-old Guatemalan man, Sebastian Zapeta, has been charged with murder and arson for allegedly setting a woman on fire as she slept on a subway train in New York City. The incident, which occurred on December 22, 2024, has sent shockwaves through the community and raised concerns about public safety in the city.

Illegal charged with lighting sleeping woman on fire pleads not guilty

Zapeta was indicted on one count of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and arson. During the hearing, he listened through an interpreter and did not speak. His lawyer mentioned that he needed medical attention, but no further details were provided. It was revealed that Zapeta entered the U.S. illegally in 2018, was deported, and subsequently returned to the country at an unknown time.

The Victim

The victim has been identified as Debrina Kawam, a 57-year-old woman from Toms River, New Jersey. The attack was so brutal that it took more than a week to identify her remains due to the extent of her injuries. Mayor Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain, expressed his horror at the attack and deemed the surveillance video too disturbing to watch in its entirety.

The Attack

According to authorities, the attack took place while Kawam was sitting alone, presumably asleep, on a stopped F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described how the suspect approached the victim calmly and used what is believed to be a lighter to ignite her clothing, causing it to become fully engulfed in flames within seconds. Shockingly, after carrying out the act, the suspect sat down on a nearby bench and watched as help arrived. Responding officers were immediately on the scene, and a transit worker used a fire extinguisher in an attempt to extinguish the flames.

The Arrest

Zapeta was subsequently apprehended after three teenagers on another subway train recognized him from a wanted poster and alerted the authorities. He was taken into custody at the next station. If convicted, Zapeta faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Subway Crime Statistics

The NYPD released its end-of-the-year crime statistics for 2024, highlighting an overall decrease in crime and an increase in arrests. However, it was noted that homicides on the subway system had doubled compared to the previous year, raising alarms about safety in the subway system.

Zapeta is scheduled to appear in court again on March 12, where further legal proceedings will take place. The case has garnered significant media attention and has become a focal point for discussions on public safety in New York City.

The senselessness and brutality of the attack on Debrina Kawam have left the community in shock and mourning. It serves as a grim reminder of the potential dangers that lurk in public spaces and the imperative need for enhanced security measures to protect citizens from such heinous acts.