NEW YORK – The victim of the horrific attack on a New York City subway has been identified as Debrina Kawam, a 61-year-old woman from Toms River, New Jersey, police confirmed on Tuesday.
Sebastian Zapeta, 33, is facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder, for allegedly setting Kawam on fire while she was sleeping inside a subway train car at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn on December 22.
According to the criminal complaint, Zapeta used a shirt to intensify the flames. He has been charged with one count of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and one count of first-degree arson.
“These are significant charges. Murder in the first degree carries the possibility of life without parole. It’s the most serious statute under New York state law,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “My office is confident in the evidence and our ability to hold Zapeta accountable for his heinous actions.”
Mayor Pushes for Federal Charges
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has called for additional federal charges in the case, condemning the act as an unthinkable display of cruelty.
“Lighting another human being on fire and watching them burn alive reflects a level of evil that cannot be tolerated,” the mayor’s office said in a statement.
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Immigration History
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed that Zapeta entered the country illegally from Guatemala in 2018 and was subsequently deported. He later reentered the U.S. at an unspecified date.
Zapeta is scheduled to be arraigned on January 7, 2025, when the indictment will be officially unsealed.
This tragic case has shaken New York City and reignited discussions about public safety on the subway system, as well as the complexities surrounding immigration enforcement.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
