New York Police Confirm Identity of Debrina Kawam, Victim of Subway Fire Incident

A woman who died after being set on fire in a New York subway train has been identified as 57-year-old Debrina Kawam from Toms River, New Jersey. The incident occurred earlier this month, and New York City police confirmed her identity on Tuesday. Mayor Eric Adams mentioned that Kawam had briefly stayed in the city's homeless shelter system, though he did not specify the time frame.

The suspect, Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was arrested hours after police released images of him following the attack on December 22. The incident took place on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station. Zapeta allegedly approached Kawam while she was asleep and set her clothes on fire. He then used a shirt to fan the flames, causing her to be engulfed in fire before sitting on a bench to watch.

Suspect's Background and Legal Proceedings

Federal immigration officials revealed that Zapeta is from Guatemala and entered the United States illegally. His address corresponds with a shelter offering housing and substance abuse support. Authorities believe that Kawam and Zapeta were strangers to each other. Zapeta has been indicted on charges of murder and arson but has yet to enter a plea. He remains in custody and was absent from a court hearing where his indictment was announced.

During the hearing, Prosecutor Ari Rottenberg stated that Zapeta admitted to consuming large amounts of alcohol and claimed not to remember the incident. However, he did recognize himself in photos and surveillance footage showing the fire being started. "This was a malicious deed," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez remarked following the hearing.

Community Impact and Official Statements

Mayor Adams expressed condolences to Kawam's family, acknowledging the trauma they are enduring. "Hearts go out to the family, a horrific incident to have to live through," Adams said. He emphasized that such incidents affect how New Yorkers feel about safety and reiterated his stance against people living in subway systems, advocating for proper care facilities instead.

The identification process for Kawam was challenging, with authorities relying on forensic evidence and video surveillance for confirmation. By Friday, they were still working on tracing her identity using these methods. Mayor Adams noted that authorities had contacted her next of kin but had limited information beyond her name and address.

Zapeta's arrest followed a tip-off from high school students who recognized him from circulated images. Despite being detained, his attorney declined to comment after the court proceedings. The case continues as investigators piece together details surrounding this tragic event.