A Brooklyn subway fire incident has left a community in shock, with authorities unveiling the identity of the victim and the circumstances surrounding the attack.
**Victim Identified in Gruesome Brooklyn Subway Fire Attack**
**Victim Identified in Gruesome Brooklyn Subway Fire Attack**
Authorities reveal the name of a woman tragically set ablaze in a subway incident, as details about the suspect emerge.
In a tragic incident that unfolded on December 22, New York City police have revealed the identity of a woman who was horrifically set on fire while sleeping on a subway train. The victim, 57-year-old Debrina Kawam, originally from New Jersey, was attacked in a seemingly random assault that left her unrecognizable. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, has been charged with igniting the flames using a lighter. Witnesses report that he brazenly fanned the flames with a shirt while watching the fire escalate from a bench outside the subway car.
A grand jury has since indicted Zapeta on multiple counts, including four counts of murder and one count of arson. He has pleaded not guilty and claims that he has no recollection of the incident. The New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner determined that Kawam's death was ruled a homicide caused by "thermal and inhalational injuries," with identification delayed due to the condition of her remains.
At a press briefing, Mayor Eric Adams emphasized the need for better care for individuals in vulnerable situations, noting that Kawam had recently utilized a city homeless shelter. He stated, "People should not be living on our subway system," reinforcing the importance of providing safe spaces. Shortly after the incident, false information circulated online, including misleading images and fake stories, generating considerable community support for the victim.
Details from the investigation reveal that Kawam was motionless on a subway train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station when Zapeta allegedly approached her. Although the two did not interact, police suspect that Zapeta chose her at random for his violent act. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the crime as "one of the most depraved" acts imaginable.
At a preliminary hearing, prosecutor Ari Rottenberg highlighted Zapeta's admission of drinking before the attack and his subsequent acknowledgment of being captured on surveillance footage. Additionally, immigration officials reported that Zapeta, originally from Guatemala, had been deported from the U.S. in 2018 but re-entered illegally. He is scheduled to appear in court again on January 7.
This disturbing incident is part of a troubling trend in subway safety amid declining overall crime rates. Concerns were further amplified when another individual was pushed onto the tracks in a different incident in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, leading to injuries and subsequent detainment of a suspect.
A grand jury has since indicted Zapeta on multiple counts, including four counts of murder and one count of arson. He has pleaded not guilty and claims that he has no recollection of the incident. The New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner determined that Kawam's death was ruled a homicide caused by "thermal and inhalational injuries," with identification delayed due to the condition of her remains.
At a press briefing, Mayor Eric Adams emphasized the need for better care for individuals in vulnerable situations, noting that Kawam had recently utilized a city homeless shelter. He stated, "People should not be living on our subway system," reinforcing the importance of providing safe spaces. Shortly after the incident, false information circulated online, including misleading images and fake stories, generating considerable community support for the victim.
Details from the investigation reveal that Kawam was motionless on a subway train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station when Zapeta allegedly approached her. Although the two did not interact, police suspect that Zapeta chose her at random for his violent act. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the crime as "one of the most depraved" acts imaginable.
At a preliminary hearing, prosecutor Ari Rottenberg highlighted Zapeta's admission of drinking before the attack and his subsequent acknowledgment of being captured on surveillance footage. Additionally, immigration officials reported that Zapeta, originally from Guatemala, had been deported from the U.S. in 2018 but re-entered illegally. He is scheduled to appear in court again on January 7.
This disturbing incident is part of a troubling trend in subway safety amid declining overall crime rates. Concerns were further amplified when another individual was pushed onto the tracks in a different incident in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, leading to injuries and subsequent detainment of a suspect.
