Man Indicted for Murder and Arson in New York City Subway Fire
A grand jury has indicted Sebastian Zapeta, 33, on charges of murder and arson in connection with the death of a woman who was set on fire while sleeping on a New York City subway car. The indictment charges Zapeta with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, and one count of first-degree arson.
According to the police account, Zapeta used a lighter to ignite the clothes of the woman, who appeared to be sleeping on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station on Sunday. He then used a shirt to fan the flames until the woman was engulfed in fire. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene after the fire was extinguished.
The city’s medical examiner determined that the cause of death was smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. Zapeta, who is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the country unlawfully, was living in a homeless shelter in Brooklyn at the time of the attack.
Zapeta faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. He will be arraigned on January 7. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office said it is confident in the evidence in the case and its ability to hold Zapeta accountable for his actions.
“My office is very confident about the evidence in this case and our ability to hold Zapeta accountable for his dastardly deeds,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “This was a malicious deed against a sleeping and vulnerable woman.”