Man Pleads Not Guilty in Subway Fire Murder

Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old Guatemalan national, pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and arson for allegedly setting Debrina Kawam, a 57-year-old homeless woman, on fire in a New York City subway car. The incident occurred on December 22, 2024, at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station, with Zapeta accused of fanning the flames before sitting nearby to watch. Zapeta, who had been deported from the U.S. previously, admitted to being the person in surveillance footage but claimed excessive alcohol consumption as a reason for not recalling the incident. The attack has intensified concerns over subway safety, despite reports of a 5.4% decrease in transit crime last year. City officials, including NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, have announced plans to increase police presence in high-crime subway areas to address public safety concerns.