A man was indicted yesterday on charges of murder and arson in the horrific death of a woman who was set aflame on a stationary subway train in Brooklyn, New York. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, approached the victim, whom he had never previously seen, and set her clothes on fire, according to the prosecution.
The devastating attack happened early Sunday morning at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station. The victim, whose identity was not immediately known, was on an F train when Zapeta lit her on fire using a lighter. In the seconds that followed, the clothing was fully engulfed by the flames. Officers in patrol extinguished the fire but could not save the woman.
The Police Commissioner, Jessica Tisch, described the attack as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could commit against another.” Investigators believe she was motionless during the assault and are determining whether she was asleep.
Arrest and Background
Zapata, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 and was deported before re-entering unlawfully, was apprehended hours later. Police credited three high school students who recognized the suspect from widely circulated photos and alerted authorities. Officers arrested him at Herald Square station, where they found a lighter in his possession.
Broader Implications
This brutal killing has brought new safety issues into the New York City subway. The transit network has experienced 11 reported murders up to this year, and rising violence has made many commuters speak out.
The pressure on New York officials has been mounting. They must make changes in their criminal justice system and strengthen their police force to effectively control the city’s streets. “New Yorkers saw something, said something, and did something,” Commissioner Tisch commented on how Zapeta had been apprehended.
As probing continues, it is the whole challenge for the city to effectively ensure public safety in their transit system.
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