Who is Sebastian Zapeta, A Guatemalan Migrant in Setting a Woman on Fire Inside NY Subway

Learn more: The Motives of New York Subway on Fire: Liquor Bottles and A Lighter

A Guatemalan migrant arrested for setting sleeping NYC subway rider on fire

A Guatemalan Migrant

A Guatemalan migrant has been arrested for allegedly setting a sleeping woman on fire inside a Coney Island F train on Sunday morning.

Three teenagers recognized the man from the photos and called 911, enabling NYPD and transit officers to work together to arrest him

Police sources report that a civilian identified the suspect on a train at 34th Street in Manhattan. The witness alerted officers, who subsequently detained the individual.

The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Sebastian Zapeta, is accused of igniting the woman around 7:30 a.m., then watching her burn to death.

Learn more: Kathy Hochul Touted 'the NYC Subway Safe' After 'Woman Burned Alive'

Video - Sebastian Zapeta has been identified as the man who committed the horrific act of setting a woman on fire on the New York Subway:

The female victim has not yet been identified. Authorities indicate that Zapeta has been in the United States since 2018.

Sebastian Zapeta

The incident has shocked commuters and MTA workers, highlighting concerns about safety in the city's subway system. One MTA worker described the scene: "It just looked like all the clothes were burnt off... That s-t is crazy—it's only three days until Christmas."

As of now, no charges have been filed against Zapeta. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the motive behind this horrific act.

A woman was burned to death

Guatemalan migrant arrested for setting sleeping NYC subway rider on fire, watching her burn to death

The New York Police Department claims that Zapeta was on a train at 34th Street in Manhattan when a fellow traveler recognized him and informed the authorities. Dorian Geiger, metro reporter for the New York Post, said on X that a lighter has allegedly been found in the possession of the Zapeta.

A Woman Set on Fire inside New York Subway

Days before Christmas, the community was rocked by what investigators have called a shocking and unprovoked attack. The motive behind the horrific crime is still being looked into by authorities.

New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced during a press conference that a suspect was spotted in the area shortly after the crime. He was seen sitting on a platform bench, and clear imagery of him was captured by an officer’s body camera. This footage was later shared publicly through a wanted flier.

NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta revealed that security camera footage played a crucial role in narrowing down the search for the man seen in the body camera recording. Later in the day, three individuals, described as "high school-aged" riders, recognized someone resembling the suspect and promptly called 911. Officers responding to the call boarded the train, located the suspect, and detained him.

Police stated that officers in the vicinity had smelled smoke and quickly rushed to the scene. One officer remained on-site while others retrieved fire extinguishers to put out the flames. Unfortunately, emergency medical services declared the woman dead at the scene. The incident is being treated as a homicide.

The suspect is described as a man between 25 to 30 years old, standing 5 feet 6 inches tall, and weighing approximately 150 pounds. Body camera footage showed him wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, jeans, a knit hat with a red band, and brown boots. At the time of his apprehension, the man had a lighter in his pocket and was still wearing the same clothing, which included paint-splattered pants.

New York City Councilman Justin Brannan, representing South Brooklyn, referred to the incident as a “horrific immolation” in a social media post and awaited further updates.

The victim, whose identity remains unknown, was asleep on an idle F train at the Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn early Sunday morning, just before 7:30 a.m. According to police, the suspect calmly approached her, used what is believed to be a lighter to ignite her clothing, and fled the scene.

The Motives

At the scene, authorities discovered several liquor bottles surrounding the victim. This finding has led to speculation about their potential role in the incident. However, as of now, it remains unclear whether these bottles belonged to the victim, the perpetrator, or were unrelated to the crime.

The suspect, identified as a man in his 20s, was apprehended later that day after being recognized by civilians from surveillance footage disseminated by the police. Despite his arrest, authorities have not disclosed any information regarding a possible motive. Preliminary investigations suggest that there was no prior interaction between the victim and the assailant, and they are not believed to have known each other.

The presence of liquor bottles at the scene raises questions about whether alcohol played a role in the incident. It's possible that the victim had been consuming alcohol prior to the attack, which might have rendered her more vulnerable. Alternatively, the bottles could have been used by the perpetrator to facilitate the act, or they might be entirely incidental. Without concrete evidence, these remain speculative scenarios.

As the investigation continues, law enforcement officials are meticulously examining all aspects of the case, including the significance of the liquor bottles and any potential connections to the suspect. The motive remains elusive, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to aid in understanding the circumstances that led to this tragic event.

This incident has intensified concerns about safety within New York City's subway system, prompting calls for increased security measures and vigilance among commuters. The community awaits further updates as investigators work diligently to uncover the motive behind this senseless act of violence.