Woman set on fire on NYC subway identified as Debrina Kawam, of New Jersey, police say

NEW YORK — The girl who was set on hearth and burned to loss of life on a New York Metropolis subway automotive has been recognized as Debrina Kawam, of Toms River, New Jersey, police mentioned Tuesday. 

New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams informed reporters the sufferer briefly frolicked within the metropolis’s shelter system, including his coronary heart goes out to her household.

“Horrific incident to need to stay by way of. Watching that tape, I could not even watch it throughout. Only a unhealthy incident, and it impacts on how New Yorkers really feel,” Adams mentioned. “It actually reinforces what I have been saying, folks shouldn’t be residing on our subway system, they need to be in a spot of care. And irrespective of the place she lived, that ought to not have occurred.”

Sebastian Zapeta is accused of setting the 57-year-old girl on hearth whereas she was sleeping inside a practice automotive on the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn. 

Prosecutors say he used a lighter to begin the fireplace on Dec. 22 and then used a shirt to fan the flames. The 33-year-old is going through one rely of first-degree homicide, three counts of second-degree homicide and one rely of first-degree arson. 

“These are important counts. Homicide within the first diploma carries the potential for life with out parole. It is probably the most critical statute in New York state legislation, and my workplace could be very assured concerning the proof on this case and our skill to carry Zapeta accountable for his dastardly deeds,” Brooklyn District Legal professional Eric Gonzalez mentioned when he introduced the costs final week.

In the meantime, the mayor’s workplace is pushing for added federal expenses within the case. 

“Lighting one other human being on hearth and watching them burn alive displays a stage of evil that can’t be tolerated,” the workplace mentioned in an announcement final week. 

Zapeta is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 7, when the indictment will formally be unsealed. 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers say he entered the nation illegally from Guatemala in 2018 and was deported, however he reentered someday afterwards.