A man accused of burning a sleeping woman to death on a New York City subway train is set to be arraigned Tuesday on charges of murder and arson. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, will appear in Brooklyn court in connection with the horrific killing of 57-year-old Debrina Kawam.
Incident Details
Prosecutors allege that on December 22, Zapeta set Kawam, a New Jersey resident, on fire while she was asleep aboard a stationary F train at Brooklyn’s Coney Island station. Zapeta is accused of fanning the flames with a shirt before sitting on a platform bench and watching as Kawam burned.
Authorities say Zapeta admitted to being the person captured in surveillance footage of the incident but claimed he could not recall the events due to heavy alcohol consumption.
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Charges and Background
Zapeta, a Guatemalan citizen who was deported in 2018 and later reentered the United States illegally, faces multiple counts of murder and an arson charge. The most serious charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole.
While Zapeta was initially arraigned on a criminal complaint, prosecutors announced his grand jury indictment in late December, a required step for felony cases to proceed to trial in New York unless waived by the defendant. His attorney has not responded to requests for comment.
Impact on Subway Safety Concerns
The killing has reignited debates over safety in New York City’s vast mass transit system. Despite a second consecutive year of declining transit crime—down 5.4% in 2024 compared to the previous year—concerns about rider safety persist. Major crimes citywide have also dropped by 3%, according to data released Monday by the NYPD.
During a press conference, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch acknowledged that many riders still feel unsafe. To address these concerns, the NYPD plans to deploy over 200 additional officers to subway trains and platforms, focusing on the 50 stations with the highest crime rates.
“We know that 78% of transit crime occurs on trains and platforms, and that is quite obviously where our officers need to be,” Tisch said. “This is just the beginning.”
Key Points:
- Suspect Arraignment: Sebastian Zapeta, 33, is set to be arraigned in Brooklyn court on charges of murder and arson for allegedly burning Debrina Kawam, 57, to death on a New York City subway train.
- Incident Details: The incident occurred on December 22, 2024, at the Coney Island station on a stationary F train. Prosecutors allege Zapeta set Kawam on fire, fanned the flames, and watched as she burned.
- Suspect’s Statement: Zapeta reportedly admitted to being the man in surveillance footage but claimed he was too intoxicated to recall the events.
- Charges and Penalty: Zapeta, a Guatemalan citizen deported in 2018 and later reentering the U.S. illegally, faces multiple counts of murder and arson. The top charge carries a maximum sentence of life without parole.
- Safety Concerns: The killing has reignited discussions about safety in New York City’s subway system, despite transit crime declining 5.4% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
- NYPD Response: Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the deployment of over 200 additional officers to trains and platforms, targeting the 50 highest-crime stations to improve rider safety.
