Sebastian Zapeta is charged with murder and arson after allegedly setting a woman on fire inside a New York City subway train.
The man accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train used a shirt to fan the flames, a prosecutor said at his arraignment on murder charges. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who federal immigration officials said is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the US illegally, was not required to enter a plea and did not speak at the hearing in Brooklyn criminal court. He will remain jailed at the city’s Rikers Island complex and is due back in court on Friday.
His lawyer did not ask for bail. Zapeta is charged with two counts of murder, accusing him of intentionally killing the woman and killing her while committing arson. He is also charged with one count of arson. The top charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez called the attack a “gruesome and senseless act of violence” and said it would be “met with the most serious consequences.” The apparently random attack occurred Sunday morning on a train stopped at the Coney Island station. The victim’s identification is still pending. Authorities say Zapeta approached the woman, who may have been sleeping in the train, and set her clothing on fire with a lighter. Zapeta then fanned the flames with a shirt, engulfing her in fire, Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg said in court Tuesday. Zapeta sat on a bench on the subway platform and watched, Rottenberg said. According to Rottenberg, Zapeta told detectives that he didn’t know what happened but identified himself in images of the attack. Zapeta’s lawyer, public defender Andrew Friedman, did not speak to reporters after the arraignment. Video on social media appears to show some people looking on from the platform and at least one police officer walking by while the woman is on fire inside the train
SUBWAY ATTACK MURDER ARSON NYC CRIME GUATEMALAN IMMIGRANT
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Man fronts court accused of killing 62-year-old woman at Melbourne brothelMichael James Chalmers, 35, is alleged to have killed the woman in Melbourne&x27;s west in the early hours of November 27.
Read more »
Man accused of burning woman to death on subway appears in courtSebastian Zapeta used his shirt to fan the flames and sat on a bench to watch, a New York court heard.
Read more »
Suspect watches woman burn to death on train after allegedly setting her on fireThe suspect who allegedly lit a sleeping passenger on fire inside a Coney Island F train sat on a bench and watched her burn to death in a shocking pre-Christmas killing — then sneaked away when unwitting cops told him they needed to “clear the space.
Read more »
Deportation Didn't Stop Guatemalan Migrant From Allegedly Setting Woman Ablaze on NYC SubwayA Guatemalan migrant accused of setting a woman on fire on a New York City subway was previously deported before illegally reentering the US. The incident occurred on Sunday at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station, where the suspect allegedly set a sleeping woman ablaze and watched as she burned.
Read more »
Toowoomba man found guilty of murdering and dismembering neighbour before setting fire to homeA Toowoomba man who killed and dismembered his neighbour before setting his house on fire has been found guilty of murder.
Read more »
Man Charged for Setting Fires in Two Gosford Legal OfficesA man has been charged for igniting gas cylinders in two legal offices in Gosford, causing evacuations and damage. The suspect entered the Gosford Legal Aid NSW office and set a small fire, then moved to a third-floor private firm on the same street, leading to smoke inhalation and moderate damage. NSW Police Superintendent Darryl Jobson called the attack 'brazen' and established a strike force to investigate.
Read more »