The Man Accused of Lighting a Woman on Fire on a New York City Subway Makes First Court Appearance
The man accused of lighting a woman on fire on a New York City subway and fanning the flames as she burned to death made his first appearance in court on Tuesday, while authorities were yet to publicly identify the victim.
What Do We Know About the Suspect?
Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was arraigned on murder and arson charges on Tuesday afternoon in a Brooklyn court, where he was remanded back to custody. He did not enter a plea and his lawyer did not speak to reporters assembled inside the courthouse.
Authorities allege Zapeta — who federal immigration officials say is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally — calmly approached the woman aboard a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn on Sunday morning and set her clothing ablaze.
What Do We Know About the Victim?
The victim had not been publicly identified as of Tuesday. An NYPD spokesperson said earlier in the day that an identification was still “pending at this time.” Police have described her only as a woman.
Tisch said at a press conference on Sunday that the victim was “in a seated position” at the end of the train car when she was set on fire. Joseph Gulotta, the department’s chief of transit, added that police don’t believe the suspect and the victim knew each other, and that they did not interact before or during the incident.
What Kind of Police Presence is There on the Subway?
Police patrol the New York City subways, and there is a vast network of cameras in stations and in all subway cars.
But the sheer size of the subway system — 472 stations with multiple entry points and millions of riders each day — makes policing it logistically difficult.
On Sunday, officers were at the station but were patrolling a different platform. They responded after seeing and smelling smoke coming from the fire.
Is Crime Up on the Subways?
Violent incidents on the subway and in stations often put people on edge, partly because many New Yorkers take the train multiple times a day and often have their own experiences with uncomfortable interactions in the system.
Broadly, crime is down in the city transit system this year compared to the same period in 2023. Data compiled by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority shows a 6% decline in what the agency calls major felonies between January and November of this year and 2023.
At the same time, murders in the transit system are up, with nine killings this year through November compared to five in the same time frame last year.
Conclusion
The case has sent shockwaves through the city, with authorities describing it as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being.” The suspect, Sebastian Zapeta, is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally and is facing murder and arson charges. The victim has not been publicly identified, and police are still investigating the incident.
FAQs
Q: What happened to the suspect?
A: The suspect, Sebastian Zapeta, was arraigned on Tuesday and remanded back to custody. He did not enter a plea and his lawyer did not speak to reporters.
Q: Who is the victim?
A: The victim has not been publicly identified as of Tuesday. An NYPD spokesperson said an identification is still “pending at this time.”
Q: Is crime up on the subways?
A: Broadly, crime is down in the city transit system this year compared to the same period in 2023. However, murders in the transit system are up, with nine killings this year through November compared to five in the same time frame last year.
Q: What is being done to improve subway safety?
A: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has directed members of the state’s National Guard to assist with random bag checks at certain stations. The NYPD also has a vast network of cameras in stations and in all subway cars, and officers patrol the subways regularly.
