Prosecutors have charged 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta-Calil with first- and second-degree murder and first-degree arson in connection with the horrific death of a woman on a New York City subway train. The incident, which happened Sunday morning, has brought to the fore again concerns about safety and disorder inside the city’s transit system amid a spate of random attacks.
Details About the Suspect
Zapeta-Calil, who is an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, had been deported once before in 2018 and reentered the U.S. illegally, according to federal authorities. His last known residence was a Brooklyn homeless shelter for men dealing with substance abuse, according to the NYPD.
The suspect’s immigration status and the fact that he was in a homeless shelter brought cries of blame over immigration and the crisis of homelessness that increasingly weighs upon large cities. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that ” Zapeta-Calil encountered by border officials in 2018, removed, and returned at an unknown time “.
The suspect currently awaits arraignment. New York City officials have reiterated a call for stronger measures against violators of immigration laws.
How the Incident Unfolded
The attack occurred on an F train approaching Stillwell Avenue Station in Brooklyn at about 7:30 a.m. Security video showed Zapeta-Calil facing the victim, who was sleeping with her head covered with a blanket. He suddenly lit her jacket on fire. Flames erupted quickly.
A motive is not yet clear.” Instead, the suspect got off the train and sat down to a bench to watch while she succumbed to the fire of the blaze. Sources say that her mobility issues-she had a walker with her-and wearing multiple layers of clothes probably contributed to the intensity of the fire.
Authorities had earlier thought the incident to be an accidental fire since several liquor bottles were found around the site. However, in-depth investigation and surveillance footage proved it was deliberate.
The victim was unidentified and presumably homeless. Eight hours later, the suspect was identified when high school kids on a Manhattan subway identified him. NYPD arrested him with a lighter in his pocket.
Official Responses
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez decried it as a senseless act of violence. He said such acts against helpless people would not go unpunished.
That safety effort is one New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Governor, Kathy Hochul have brought up time and time again. After it emerged Saturday night that citizen volunteers found the suspect, Mayor Adams lauded citizens who stepped forward. And Governor Hochul’s proposals included deploying more National Guard and adding security cameras around the transit system.
While subway crime is said to be down 10% since a safety initiative went into effect in the early part of this year, this incident, along with several other high-profile recent ones, has shaken New York City commuters.
The incident came on the night when a “Code Blue” warning was issued, which promised services for the homeless when the temperature turns freezing. Advocates maintain that only by addressing these root causes-homelessness, mental health-can such tragedies be avoided in the future.
As investigations unfold, the incident is a grueling reminder of the struggles urban transit systems face in their need for holistic approaches to ensure public safety.
