Man Charged with Murder After Woman Set on Fire on New York Subway

Suspect Faces Multiple Charges in “Depraved” Brooklyn Attack

A man has been charged with first- and second-degree murder, as well as arson, following the death of a woman who was set on fire aboard a New York City subway train.

Incident Details

Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was arrested in connection with the attack, which occurred Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn. The victim, whose identity has not been released, died at the scene after her clothing was ignited with a lighter, quickly becoming “fully engulfed in flames,” according to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

“This is one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being,” Tisch said.

The attack happened around 7:30 a.m. local time. Police say the victim was motionless when Zapeta approached her, but they are still determining whether she was asleep at the time. Authorities believe the victim and suspect were strangers and that there was no interaction between them before the attack.

Rapid Response and Arrest

Police officers stationed on an upper level of the subway station noticed smoke and rushed to investigate. When they arrived, they found the woman fully engulfed in flames inside the train car. Officers extinguished the fire, but the victim could not be saved.

Unbeknownst to officers at the time, the suspect remained at the station, sitting on a bench just outside the train car. The NYPD used detailed images captured by the officers’ body-worn cameras to circulate a clear description of the suspect.

Later that day, three high school students spotted the suspect on another subway train and called 911. Officers located and arrested Zapeta at the Herald Square station in Manhattan, where he was found with a lighter in his pocket.

Immigration History

According to an immigration official, Zapeta had entered the United States illegally in 2018, was deported, and later unlawfully re-entered the country.

Community Efforts Praised

Commissioner Tisch commended the young New Yorkers who helped identify the suspect, saying, “They saw something, they said something, and they did something.”

Investigation Ongoing

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances of the attack, which has shocked the city and raised questions about subway safety.