Man charged with setting woman on fire on New York train

A 33-year-old man, Sebastian Zapeta, has been charged with murder and arson after allegedly setting a woman on fire on a New York City subway train. The victim, whose identity has not been revealed, died at the scene after her clothing became engulfed in flames.

Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old Guatemalan citizen, has been charged with murder and arson after allegedly setting a woman on fire on a New York City train Sunday morning.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the attack, stating Zapeta calmly approached the seated victim and ignited her clothing, which was fully engulfed in flames within seconds. Officers and an MTA employee extinguished the fire, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Zapeta was arrested later that day on another subway train, with a lighter in his pocket and clothing matching the suspect’s description. Authorities believe he did not know the victim, who remains unidentified.

Zapeta, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 and was deported shortly after, is suspected of re-entering unlawfully at an unknown time, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The incident has raised concerns about safety on public transport and immigration enforcement.

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