Guatemalan migrant arrested for horrific death of a woman

In an event that has shocked New York, a woman tragically died after being burned alive in a subway car at the Stillwell Avenue station, Coney Island, during the early hours of Sunday. The main suspect, Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old Guatemalan migrant, was arrested in connection with this crime.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) revealed that Zapeta set fire to the victim's clothes while she was sleeping. According to Commissioner Jessica Tisch at a press conference, the man used a lighter to ignite the woman's clothing, causing the flames to engulf her in a matter of seconds.

The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. when the train was at the Stillwell Avenue station. Officers were patrolling the area and were alerted by smoke and fire. Upon reaching the train car, they found the woman on fire. An MTA employee managed to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sebastian Zapeta did not attempt to flee and was found sitting on a bench near the train, while the officers' body cameras documented his arrest. Later, three high school students recognized the suspect thanks to the images released by the authorities and alerted the authorities. This allowed transit agents to arrest him on a moving train without resistance.

New York Mayor Eric Adams lamented the crime, calling it a “senseless murder.” He thanked citizens and law enforcement for the swift action that allowed the perpetrator to be captured. “This type of depraved behavior has no place in our city, and we will work to ensure that there is justice for all victims of violent crime,” he said.

Tech mogul Elon Musk also condemned the attack on his social media, sharing the suspect’s security image and declaring: “Enough is enough.”

Sebastián Zapeta arrived in the United States about a year ago from Guatemala. It is unclear whether his entry into the country was legal or illegal.