By Jonathan Allen
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Sebastian Zapeta, the man accused of killing Debrina Kawam, a 57-year-old woman, while she slept on a New York City subway car by setting her on fire, pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and arson at a court hearing on Tuesday. A grand jury has indicted Zapeta, 33, on one count of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and one count of first-degree arson for the killing.
Crime on the New York City subway remains relatively rare, despite being one of the oldest and largest transit systems globally. However, the New York Police Department acknowledged this week that attacks like Kawam’s violent killing can instill fear among New Yorkers.
The horrific incident was captured on video by a bystander on the platform, showing Kawam engulfed in flames near the open doors of a train car. The police account states that Zapeta used a lighter to ignite Kawam’s clothes while she appeared to be sleeping on a seat in a stationary F train car at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station at approximately 7:30 a.m. on December 22. He then fanned the fire with a shirt, as per the police complaint.
Following the extinguishing of the fire, Kawam was pronounced dead at the scene. The city’s medical examiner determined the cause of death as smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. It took over a week to identify her using fingerprint analysis.
Zapeta, identified as a Guatemalan citizen by federal officials, had been residing in a Brooklyn homeless shelter, according to the New York Police Department. He appeared in Kings Supreme Court in Brooklyn for arraignment, dressed in orange jail attire with his hands cuffed behind his back and accompanied by a Spanish interpreter.
Kawam, originally from Toms River, New Jersey, had also spent time in New York City’s homeless shelter system, Mayor Eric Adams revealed. About 4 million trips are taken on the city’s subway each weekday, and while serious crime, predominantly thefts, decreased by 5.4% in 2024 compared to the previous year, the number of killings has increased.
As of November, there had been nine reported homicides on the subway in 2024, up from five in the same period in 2023, according to police data. In response to Kawam’s killing and other acts of violence, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the deployment of additional officers to patrol the subway system.
Tisch emphasized the need for further action to address safety concerns in the subways despite the declining crime numbers, stating, “Declining crime numbers are significant, but we still must do more, because people don’t feel safe in our subways.”
If convicted on any of the charges, Zapeta faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that Zapeta unlawfully
