NYC — Sebastián Zapeta, 33, has been indicted by a Brooklyn grand jury on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and first-degree arson in connection with the death of a woman on a New York City subway.
The incident occurred on December 22, at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station, where Zapeta allegedly set the sleeping woman’s clothes on fire and fanned the flames with a shirt. The victim died from smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. Zapeta, a Guatemalan national residing in a homeless shelter, faces life imprisonment without parole if convicted. He is scheduled to be arraigned on January 7, 2025.
The event reignited concerns about safety measures in the subway system.Vicki Goble, whose son Garrett Goble, an MTA worker, died in a similar incident in 2020, expressed outrage that the MTA still does not provide fire extinguishers in conductors’ cabins—a safety measure she has advocated for since her son’s death. She believes that such equipment could potentially prevent future tragedies.
In a separate incident, a 67-year-old homeless man suffered severe burns at Penn Station. Authorities now believe he may have set himself on fire, though investigations are ongoing. These events have heightened concerns about safety and crime within the subway system. As a result, groups like the Guardian Angels have announced the return of their patrols.
Source: CBS News