New York City was shaken by a gruesome attack early Tuesday morning at the Stillwell Avenue subway station in Brooklyn.
A 33-year-old Guatemalan migrant, Sebastian Zapeta, was arrested after allegedly setting a woman on fire aboard a stationary subway train.
Witnesses and officials described a chilling scene as Zapeta reportedly watched the woman burn to death.
The incident occurred on the F train shortly after 6 a.m. Commuters were stunned to see flames and smoke billowing from the train car, triggering an immediate response from Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) staff.
According to authorities, Zapeta had lit a match and thrown it at the victim, who was reportedly seated and surrounded by liquor bottles. Despite efforts by MTA employees to extinguish the fire, the woman succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Zapeta, who had remained at the station after the attack, was later seen sitting calmly on a bench near the train car. Surveillance footage and body camera recordings captured his presence. Hours later, he was apprehended on a Manhattan-bound train at the 34th Street station, wearing the same clothes from the attack. A lighter was found in his possession during the arrest.
Authorities revealed that Zapeta entered the United States illegally through Arizona in 2018.
Investigators are working to confirm his immigration status and determine a possible motive for the heinous act. Witness accounts suggest that Zapeta may have been intoxicated and ranting before the incident.
“This is a shocking and deeply disturbing attack,” said an NYPD spokesperson during a press conference. “The victim’s identity is still being withheld as we notify her family. Our thoughts are with them during this incredibly difficult time.”
The attack has raised renewed concerns about safety in New York City’s subway system, which has seen a spike in violent incidents despite recent efforts to enhance security.
Governor Kathy Hochul had recently assured New Yorkers of improved safety measures, but this incident has left many questioning the effectiveness of those claims.
Social media erupted in outrage after videos of the incident began circulating online. One video purportedly shows Zapeta throwing the lit match at the victim before calmly observing the flames. “How could someone do this?” commented one user. “This is pure evil.”
For many, the attack symbolizes a broader crisis of mental health, homelessness, and public safety in New York City. Transit advocates and city officials are calling for swift action to address the root causes of such violence.
Sebastian Zapeta remains in custody as the investigation continues. He faces multiple charges, including murder and arson. The NYPD has urged anyone with additional information about the incident to come forward.
The city mourns yet another life lost to senseless violence, a grim reminder of the challenges that still plague New York’s public transit system.
