The victim, Debrina Kawam, was attacked while sleeping on a subway train in Brooklyn, leading to a shocking murder investigation.
New York City: A tragic incident unfolded on a subway train in Brooklyn. Police have identified the victim as Debrina Kawam, a 61-year-old from Toms River, New Jersey. She was sleeping on the train when the horrifying attack happened.
It was December 22 when this all went down at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station. Authorities used forensics and video footage to confirm her identity after the incident.
Now, a man named Sebastian Zapeta is facing serious charges. He allegedly set Kawam on fire and then just sat there watching. Can you believe that? He’s 33 years old and has been charged with first-degree murder and arson.
Zapeta was caught later that day on the same subway line. He claimed he had been drinking and didn’t remember what happened, but he recognized himself in the surveillance footage.
Sadly, Kawam was pronounced dead at the scene. Zapeta’s facing a tough road ahead with multiple murder charges. The Brooklyn DA mentioned that the full indictment will be sealed until his arraignment on January 7.
Interestingly, Zapeta has a history with immigration. He was deported back in 2018 but returned to the U.S. illegally. Now, he’s sitting in Rikers Island, waiting for his court date next month.
More updates will follow as this story develops.
