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Edited by: TJVNews.com
Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old undocumented migrant from Guatemala has been charged with first- and second-degree murder and arson following a horrifying incident on a New York City subway train. According to a report by CNN, Zapeta-Calil allegedly set fire to a woman who was asleep, leading to her tragic death. The case has heightened concerns over subway safety and broader societal issues such as homelessness, illegal immigration, and mental health.
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office announced that Zapeta-Calil was arraigned on Tuesday after being hospitalized the previous evening. His delayed arraignment occurred after his release from the hospital on Tuesday afternoon. Zapeta-Calil has not entered a plea, and CNN confirmed that efforts to reach his attorney for comment have been unsuccessful. He is expected to return to court next Friday.
The victim, who remains unidentified, succumbed to “thermal injuries” and “smoke inhalation,” as determined by the New York City Office of the Medical Examiner. CNN reported that police testimony revealed Zapeta-Calil set fire to the victim’s clothing and exacerbated the flames by waving a shirt around her. Surveillance footage further depicted the suspect observing the victim burn from a bench outside the subway car, a detail that calls attention to the “depraved behavior” described by authorities.
This tragic incident has intensified public fears about subway safety amid a surge of random attacks in New York City. CNN highlighted that this attack has reignited debates over complex issues, including the city’s challenges with homelessness, substance abuse, and immigration policies. The victim’s death, described by law enforcement as a “brutal murder,” serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by individuals in public spaces.
Zapeta-Calil’s immigration history is now under scrutiny. The CNN report detailed that he was previously deported in 2018 after being apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in Sonoita, Arizona. An expedited removal order sent him back to Guatemala within six days, yet officials confirmed that he unlawfully reentered the U.S. at an unspecified time and location. His most recent address was listed at a Brooklyn homeless shelter for men struggling with substance abuse.
The shelter has not responded to CNN’s request for comment, and questions remain regarding the system’s ability to track and address the needs of individuals with histories of substance abuse and criminal activity. New York City Mayor Eric Adams addressed the broader implications of the case, telling Fox 5 New York, “This is a country of immigrants … But those who violate that pursuit, we need to immediately remove them from our country.”
State Senator Leroy Comrie, head of the committee overseeing the MTA, demanded answers from the transit authority in The New York Post’s exclusive report. “We need a full breakdown of what happened, how it happened, and why it took so long to make an arrest,” Comrie told The Post. He also raised concerns about the lack of mental health resources and questioned why safety protocols, such as onboard fire extinguishers, weren’t utilized.
Former Assemblyman Dov Hikind took aim at Governor Kathy Hochul, telling The Post, “This tragedy underscores the failures of our state leadership. Hochul needs to step down immediately.” Hikind criticized the governor’s recent subway safety claims as “pathetic” and accused her of being unfit for office.
The Post reported that Zapeta-Calil’s charges are pending the results of an autopsy to determine the official cause of death, a process complicated by the extent of the victim’s injuries. Questions also remain about why authorities allowed Zapeta-Calil to initially leave the scene and why no immediate action was taken to extinguish the flames.
