A man accused of setting a woman's clothes on fire on a New York City subway was charged Tuesday in Brooklyn Criminal Court with arson as well as first- and second-degree murder. Associated Press.
Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was arrested Sunday after three high school students called police and reported seeing him on the subway. The New York City Police Department and Brooklyn District Attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Hill.
“Officers on patrol in the upper floors of the station smelled it, saw smoke, and went to investigate. What they saw, according to the Associated Press, was a vehicle fully engulfed in flames. There were people standing there,” Police Chief Jessica Tisch said.
Authorities approached the crime scene platform when they saw smoke rising.
Investigators do not believe Zapeta and the female victim, whose identity has not been released, knew each other. Law enforcement officials said he approached her, set her clothes on fire, fanned the flames with his shirt, and then watched her burn from a bench on a subway platform.
Zapeta told authorities he didn't know what happened.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Jeff Carter identified Zapeta as an undocumented immigrant who returned from Guatemala after being deported in 2018.
Public defender Andrew Friedman is currently representing the man in his case and is scheduled to appear in court again on Friday.
