What Happened?
A woman was killed after being set on fire on the New York City Subway last weekend, in an attack the New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner has called "one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being."
The NYPD told reporters on December 22 that they do not believe the suspect in the murder knew the woman he allegedly lit on fire, and said they did not interact before the horrific incident.
The NYPD is still working on identifying the woman, who was burned beyond recognition on the F train in Brooklyn, and have charged 33 year-old undocumented migrant Sebastian Zapeta-Calil with murder.
Videos released from the crime scene showed police officers apparently standing by as the woman burned and passersbys walking past or filming her with their phones as opposed to trying to help her, leading people to call this apparent lack of action "disturbing."
Police defended their response, saying one officer was trying to control the crime scene as others tried to get fire extinguishers. They eventually extinguished the flames, though the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
NYPD chief of transit, Joseph Gulotta, told reporters: "What the officers saw and they had to deal with, and they were trying to get fire extinguishers, I commend that one officer who stayed there, made sure he kept the crime scene the way it's supposed to be, made sure he kept an eye on what was going on."
The crime has led to people asking for better bystander intervention. Some have even said that the tragedy would not have occurred if someone like Daniel Penny had stepped in. Penny was recently acquitted of murder after choking a homeless man to death on the subway after he yelled and lunged at a woman and her child.
Who Is the Suspect?
The suspect is undocumented migrant Sebastian Zapeta-Calil.
Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) Spokesperson Jeff Carter told Newsweek previously: "Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, is an unlawfully present Guatemalan citizen who entered the United States without admission by an immigration official. U.S. Border Patrol in Sonoita, Arizona, encountered Zapeta June 1, 2018, and served him with an order of expedited removal and Enforcement and Removal Operations removed Zapeta from the U.S. to Guatemala June 7, 2018.
"Zapeta unlawfully reentered the United States on an unknown date and location."
Zapeta was caught after images and videos of the crime were disseminated. Three high schoolers recognized him on the subway and called the police who apprehended him.
Given that the alleged perpetrator was an undocumented migrant, some people have called for mass deportations.
SUSPECT IN CUSTODY - HE IS AN ILLEGAL MIGRANT: The suspect accused of setting a woman on fire in the NYC subway is Sebastian Zapeta. He is an illegal migrant from Guatemala. He sat on a bench and watched his victim burn alive.
WE NEED MASS DEPORTATIONS! pic.twitter.com/PPtSLGJAOn
New York City Mayor Eric Adams proposed a change in the city's "Sanctuary City" laws in July.
He voiced support for a bill pushed by the Common Sense Caucus which would allow the city's law enforcement agencies to cooperate with ICE.
Republican Common Sense Caucus member, Robert Holden, said "our city cannot afford to maintain policies that compromise our security."
ICE was created in 2003, however the city has a history of not working with ICE for fear that undocumented migrants are less likely to go to the police for help or as witnesses if they are concerned about their immigration status.
These policies have been supported by mayors including Ed Koch, Rudy Giuliani and Bill de Blasio.
Who Was the Victim?
The NYPD has not announced the name of the victim yet, or given identifying details about her.
An image of a woman named "Amelia Carter" went viral on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit with users claiming that she is the woman who lost her life.
However, the image was AI generated. The NYPD has not released any information on, or images of, the woman who died.
Given that she was asleep on the subway, the woman may have been homeless, a detail the NYPD has not confirmed.
The NYPD has reminded New Yorkers to call 311 if they see someone sleeping outside in freezing temperatures, so that the person can be sheltered.
What People Are Saying
New York Mayor Eric Adams: "Grateful to the young New Yorkers and transit officers who stepped up to help our NYPD make a quick arrest following this morning's heinous and deadly subway attack. This type of depraved behavior has no place in our subways and we are committed to working hard to ensure there is swift justice for all victims of violent crime. My prayers are with the family of the victim in this senseless killing."
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez: "The depravity of this horrific crime is beyond comprehension, and my office is committed to bringing the perpetrator to justice."
What Happens Next
Zapeta is being held without bail and has a court date scheduled for Friday, December 27.
ICE Spokesperson Jeff Carter told Newsweek for a previous article: "The New York City Police Department arrested Zapeta as part of its investigation into the murder of a woman on a subway in Coney Island, New York.
"Once he is charged and a holding location is released, ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations) will lodge an immigration detainer with the NYPD location where he is being held."
Adams is up for re-election in November 2025. Whether he has the power to change New York's Sanctuary City laws by then remains to be seen.
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