Subway Fire Suspect Faces Murder Charges in NYC

A man, identified as Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, faces serious charges after allegedly setting a woman on fire in a New York City subway station. The incident happened on December 22, 2023, at the Stillwell Avenue Subway Station. The 33-year-old man, a Guatemalan citizen, is accused of setting the woman's clothes ablaze as she slept on a stationary F train. Zapeta-Calil's hearing was scheduled for Friday, but his lawyer waived his appearance. The Brooklyn District Attorney's office indicted him on four counts of murder and one count of arson. These charges include one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder, along with one count of first-degree arson. The first-degree murder charge could lead to life imprisonment without parole. The suspect has been in the country illegally, having been deported previously. He entered the U. S. in 2018 but was soon removed. It's unclear when or how he re-entered the country. Federal officials intend to request his transfer to ICE custody after the criminal case. The woman, whose identity is still unknown, was pronounced dead at the scene. A vigil was held in her memory. Zapeta-Calil has pleaded not guilty to the initial charges. During a court hearing, a prosecutor stated that the suspect used a lighter to set the woman on fire and then fanned the flames with a shirt. The suspect later claimed he didn't remember the incident due to excessive alcohol consumption. The NYPD commissioner, Jessica Tisch, mentioned that Zapeta-Calil approached the woman calmly before igniting her clothes. He was later captured on a body camera and identified by three high school students who saw him on the train and called 911. The Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.