A 33-year-old man from Guatemala was charged with murder hours after he allegedly burnt a woman to death while she slept on a subway train in Brooklyn in a “horrific and gruesome” act of depravity, authorities said.
The incident occurred Sunday morning when the suspect walked up to the sleeping victim and using a lighter, set her ablaze without speaking or interacting with her.
The victim’s clothes quickly engulfed in flames and she couldn’t be saved despite medical personnel and MTA employees’ efforts.
Authorities released clear surveillance pictures of the assailant who was spotted on another train hours later and arrested at Herald Square.
Sebastian Zapeta was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and first-degree arson. He reportedly had a lighter in his pocket when arrested.
“In today’s case, we were able to get incredibly clear and detailed images of the suspect from the initial incident,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
“Then, we asked the media to broadcast those images far and wide so we could use the viewing public as a force multiplier – and New Yorkers came through again.”
