Deadly Subway Attack: Victim Identified as Debrina Kawam

In a shocking incident that occurred on December 22, 2022, New York City police have identified the victim of a gruesome subway attack as Debrina Kawam, 61, from New Jersey. The identification was made public after a week of investigations, following the discovery that Kawam had been set alight while asleep on a stationary subway train. According to the police, Sebastian Zapeta, 33, is charged with igniting the flames using a lighter and then allegedly attempting to fan the fire with a shirt while observing from a nearby bench.

The horrifying attack left Kawam's remains barely recognizable, leading authorities to prioritize her identification through DNA and fingerprint evidence. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez expressed the urgency of the task, stating, "It's a priority for me, for my office, for the police department to identify this woman, so we can notify her family." During this period, misinformation about the victim circulated online, raising concerns over the handling of such sensitive information.

Zapeta has been indicted on four counts of murder and one count of arson, despite claiming he has no memory of the events. Surveillance footage confirmed his actions during the incident, with police detailing that he had not interacted with Kawam prior to the attack. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the crime as "one of the most depraved" she had encountered. Authorities have stated that Zapeta, previously deported from the US in 2018, re-entered the country illegally and is scheduled for a court appearance on January 7.