Woman Dies in Tragic Subway Fire in New York; Suspect Arrested
New York: The New York Police Department confirmed on Tuesday that the woman who died in a subway fire on December 22 has been identified as 61-year-old Debrina Kawam, a resident of Toms River, New Jersey.
Police said the woman’s identity was confirmed through video surveillance and forensic evidence. The suspect, Sebastian Zapeta, was arrested within hours of the incident. He has been charged with murder and arson.
Zapeta, 33, is a Guatemalan citizen who is reportedly in the U.S. illegally, according to federal immigration authorities.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated that Debrina Kawam had recently been staying at a shelter designated for the city’s homeless population. Her family has been contacted. “This is a heartbreaking incident. It has not only affected the victim’s family but has also shaken the sense of safety among all New Yorkers. We do not want anyone to have to live on the subway. Everyone deserves to be cared for,” he said.
The investigation revealed that Zapeta set Kawam on fire while she was sleeping on an F train stopped at Coney Island station in Brooklyn. He then spread the fire with a shirt and sat on a bench on the platform, watching the woman burn.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, "This is a brutal act. We cannot tolerate such an attack on a sleeping and vulnerable woman in our subway system."
A court hearing for Zapeta is scheduled for January 7, based on the charges brought against him.
