A tragedy struck in Brooklyn when an attacker burned Debrina Kawam, 57, to death on a subway train.
On December 22, 2024, Debrina Kawam tragically lost her life in a vicious attack while stationed in a subway car at Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station, Fox News reported.
Authorities identified Debrina Kawam, from Toms River, New Jersey, days after the attack because the severity of the burns she endured revealed her identity. The Coalition for the Homeless suggests that she may have been living without a home.
The incident occurred on a stationary F train, where NYPD footage revealed Kawam appeared motionless, likely asleep, when her assailant, Sebastian Zapeta, used a lighter to set her on fire.
Authorities apprehended Zapeta, 33, at the scene. He stayed near the crime, sitting on a bench just outside the train car after the attack. Officers arrested him shortly after, and prosecutors indicted him on several severe charges, including first-degree murder and arson.
Sebastian Zapeta's past includes a deportation from the United States in 2018, with a subsequent illegal re-entry. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and city officials have expressed their intentions to pursue the maximum penalties under both state and federal laws, highlighting the calculated nature of the crime.
New York Mayor Eric Adams has been actively involved in the case, ensuring a thorough investigation in coordination with local and federal agencies. "Our hearts go out to her family.
A horrific incident to have to live through," Mayor Adams conveyed his condolences and underscored the broader issue of subway safety and homelessness.
Just watching that tape, just really I couldn't watch it all the way through. It was just a bad incident and it impacts how New Yorkers feel. And no matter where she lived, that should not have happened.
"This was malicious. A sleeping, vulnerable woman on our subway system," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez remarked, prepared to demonstrate the deliberate aspect of the assault in court.
The severity of the charges against Zapeta reflects the gravity of the offense. The judicial system is preparing to impose stringent repercussions, with the first-degree murder charge carrying life without the possibility of parole and the second-degree murder charge carrying an additional 25 to life.
This incident has not only reinvigorated discussions about subway safety but also about how New York handles homelessness, particularly regarding those who find temporary shelter in the city's transit system.
As the community grapples with the shock and sorrow of such a brutal act, the city's leadership focuses on preventative measures and enhances safety protocols to ensure such a tragedy does not occur again.
The horrible fate of Debrina Kawam at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station has left a mark on the community, propelling urgent dialogues on safety and the treatment of the homeless in New York's public spaces.
