A horrific crime shocked Brooklyn yesterday when a woman was fatally set on fire aboard a subway train.
In an appalling early morning attack at the Coney Island - Stillwell Avenue Subway station, a woman lost her life after being set ablaze by an assailant while she slept, Fox News reported.
On December 22, 2024, at approximately 7:30 a.m., the victim was on a train at Coney Island - Stillwell Avenue Station. Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old man from Guatemala and a recent U.S. entrant, approached the sleeping woman and used a lighter to ignite her clothing. The flames quickly engulfed her, leading to her death right at the scene.
The incident left passengers and the local community in disbelief, particularly as it unfolded just days before Christmas. Following the attack, Sebastin Zapeta did not flee; instead, he sat calmly on a platform bench until police arrested him.
Three high school students witnessed the suspect boarding another train immediately after and reported it to the transit officers. Their prompt action led to Zapeta's arrest at a nearby subway station. Despite the arrest, authorities had not pressed charges against him by the evening of the incident.
As the NYPD arrived, they found the victim already engulfed in flames. An MTA employee, alongside a fire extinguisher, helped police officers extinguish the fire.
Clear images captured on the body-worn cameras of responding officers facilitated the arrest. The police quickly released a description and images of Zapeta, which helped secure his apprehension at the next station.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch grimly recounted the crime, stating, “As the train pulled into the station, the suspect calmly walked up to the victim.” She explained how the suspect used a lighter to set the victim on fire, causing her to become rapidly engulfed in flames.
Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, expressed his gratitude towards the young witnesses and the transit officers whose quick efforts led to the swift capture of the suspect. He sternly condemned the barbaric act.
Here’s what Mayor Eric Adams stated about the incident:
Grateful to the young New Yorkers and transit officers who stepped up to help our NYPD make a quick arrest following this morning's heinous and deadly subway attack. This type of depraved behavior has no place in our subways and we are committed to working hard to ensure there is swift justice for all victims of violent crime.
Shocked subway passengers and bystanders grappled with the brutality of the crime. One bystander expressed horror at the situation just days before Christmas, emphasizing the profound impact such an incident has on the communal spirit during the holiday season.
An MTA worker, who arrived at the scene after firefighters extinguished the flames, described a grim scene. Workers had turned off the car lights to shield passengers from seeing the victim’s burnt remains.
The community, police, and city leadership continue to react to the incident's brutality, presenting a united front to seek justice and address public transportation safety. With the suspect in custody, authorities are meticulously piecing together the circumstances leading to this tragic event and ensuring they enforce appropriate legal measures.
