Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old previously deported immigrant from Guatemala, has been indicted on multiple murder charges after allegedly setting a woman on fire aboard a Brooklyn subway train on Christmas Eve.
Zapeta faces charges of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and one count of arson. Surveillance footage reportedly shows him calmly approaching the sleeping victim, igniting her clothing with a lighter, and watching as the flames consumed her.
The victim, who police believe was homeless, remains unidentified due to the severity of her burns. Investigators are working to track down potential family members.
Zapeta, who had re-entered the U.S. illegally after being deported in 2018, was apprehended at the scene. ICE has lodged an immigration detainer for him, but New York City’s Department of Corrections has declined to honor it, citing sanctuary city policies.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez stated the case will be prosecuted in state court, where Zapeta could face life without parole if convicted. The attack has reignited debates over public safety, immigration enforcement, and bystander intervention on public transit.
“This was malicious. A sleeping, vulnerable woman on our subway system,” Gonzalez said. “This intentional act shocked New Yorkers, and we are committed to holding the perpetrator fully accountable.”
