The suspect who set a woman on fire on a New York City subway train was an illegal alien who was deported during former President Donald Trump's administration, the Department of Homeland Security said.
police said They reviewed surveillance video of the incident, which occurred at 7:30 a.m. Sunday. The suspect, who had no previous interaction with the woman, calmly approached her, poured liquid on her and set her on fire. She died from her injuries. The man in question fled the scene, but police identified him as Sebastian Zapeta Khalil.
“The despicability of this horrific crime is beyond comprehension.”
A horrifying video of a woman being burned was widely shared on social media, with many blaming the incident on the lack of law and order in New York City's transit system.
A spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Zapeta Khalil, 33, is a homeless illegal alien from Guatemala who was detained after crossing the border in 2018. He was deported but re-entered the United States at an unknown time.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the man used what appeared to be a lighter to set the victim's clothes on fire, and the victim was “completely engulfed within seconds.”
Tisch said the suspect was sitting on a bench on the subway platform in front of the subway car while police responded to the woman, but officers did not realize he was there at the time. They were able to identify him through images from the officer's body camera and subsequently arrested him without incident. Police said a lighter was found in his pocket.
Zapeta-Khalil was charged with first-degree murder and arson.
“The despicability of this horrific crime is beyond comprehension, and my office is committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice,” the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office said in a statement. “This gruesome and wanton act of violence against a vulnerable woman will face the most severe consequences. Every New Yorker has the right to feel safe on the subway, and we will ensure accountability in this case.” I will do my best to do so.”
Police have not yet identified the deceased victim.
You can view the video report here About that incident. new york post video A body bag containing the remains of a victim is shown being removed from the subway.
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