Man Indicted for Shocking Subway Murder and Arson in Brooklyn

33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta has been charged with murder and arson following an incident in which he allegedly ignited a woman's clothing on a subway train. The victim has yet to be identified, and Zapeta's next court appearance is set for January 7.

Sebastian Zapeta, 33, has been formally charged with murder and arson in connection with a horrific incident that took place on a New York subway train. The man did not appear during a brief court session on Friday, where his indictment was announced. Zapeta is accused of igniting the clothing of a woman, who authorities believe may have been asleep, and then exacerbating the flames with a shirt. The identity of the victim remains unknown.

Since his arrest shortly after the tragic event, Zapeta has been held without bail. During the initial police investigation, it was revealed that the woman was sitting on a stationary train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station in Brooklyn. A man approached her and used a lighter to set her clothing ablaze without any prior interaction between them. Officers responded quickly to extinguish the fire, but tragically, the woman succumbed to her injuries at the scene.

Witnesses confirmed that Zapeta remained at the scene briefly and was captured on police body cameras before leaving the platform. He was later identified by three high school students after police circulated his images. An immigration report indicates that Zapeta, originally from Guatemala, was deported from the US in 2018 but re-entered illegally.

At a preliminary hearing earlier in the week, prosecutor Ari Rottenberg reported that Zapeta admitted to having been drinking and claimed to not recall the incident. However, he did recognize himself in photos and surveillance showing the act of arson. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has publicly urged federal authorities to charge Zapeta with arson as well, emphasizing the severity of the crime.

A vigil was held for the unidentified victim, whose extensive injuries have complicated identification efforts. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez stated that officials are utilizing fingerprints and DNA in their pursuit of confirming her identity, amid false information circulating online, including a misleading AI-generated image. Zapeta is scheduled for his next court appearance on January 7, as the investigation continues.