Investigations into a tragic incident that left a woman dead after being set on fire on a subway train in Brooklyn are making headlines as the suspect faces multiple charges.
Outrage Grows Over Horrific Subway Fire in Brooklyn: Victim Identified
Outrage Grows Over Horrific Subway Fire in Brooklyn: Victim Identified
Authorities reveal identity of woman set ablaze in a shocking attack on a Brooklyn subway train, prompting widespread condemnation.
In an alarming case that has shocked New Yorkers, police have identified the victim who was tragically set on fire and killed in a brutal attack aboard a Brooklyn subway train. Debrina Kawam, 61, from New Jersey, became the target of an unprovoked assault on December 22, when a male suspect, Sebastian Zapeta, 33, allegedly ignited a fire while she slept. The blaze burned her body beyond recognition, and it took authorities over a week to confirm her identity.
Zapeta is accused of using a lighter to spark the flames and reportedly fanned the fire using a shirt before observing the horrific scene from outside the train car. A grand jury has since indicted him on multiple charges, including four counts of murder and one count of arson. Although he claims to have no memory of the events, surveillance footage and evidence gathered by investigators clearly show his actions.
Brooklyn's district attorney, Eric Gonzalez, emphasized the importance of identifying Ms. Kawam as swiftly as possible. "It's a priority for me, for my office, for the police department to identify this woman, so we can notify her family," he stated. Meanwhile, misinformation, including a fabricated AI-generated image of Ms. Kawam, circulated online as the identification process was underway, leading to public outrage.
The tragedy unfolded at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station, where Ms. Kawam was discovered motionless, with police and Metropolitan Transit Authority personnel responding to the pungent smell of smoke. Commissioner Jessica Tisch labeled the incident "one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being."
An initial hearing indicated that Zapeta, originally deported from Guatemala in 2018, had illegally re-entered the United States. He acknowledges being intoxicated at the time of the incident but is now grappling with the serious consequences of his alleged actions. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 7. The case continues to spark discussions about safety and crime in public spaces, leaving many to question the societal responses to such reprehensible acts.
Zapeta is accused of using a lighter to spark the flames and reportedly fanned the fire using a shirt before observing the horrific scene from outside the train car. A grand jury has since indicted him on multiple charges, including four counts of murder and one count of arson. Although he claims to have no memory of the events, surveillance footage and evidence gathered by investigators clearly show his actions.
Brooklyn's district attorney, Eric Gonzalez, emphasized the importance of identifying Ms. Kawam as swiftly as possible. "It's a priority for me, for my office, for the police department to identify this woman, so we can notify her family," he stated. Meanwhile, misinformation, including a fabricated AI-generated image of Ms. Kawam, circulated online as the identification process was underway, leading to public outrage.
The tragedy unfolded at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station, where Ms. Kawam was discovered motionless, with police and Metropolitan Transit Authority personnel responding to the pungent smell of smoke. Commissioner Jessica Tisch labeled the incident "one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being."
An initial hearing indicated that Zapeta, originally deported from Guatemala in 2018, had illegally re-entered the United States. He acknowledges being intoxicated at the time of the incident but is now grappling with the serious consequences of his alleged actions. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 7. The case continues to spark discussions about safety and crime in public spaces, leaving many to question the societal responses to such reprehensible acts.
