DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN (PIX11) – A man accused of setting a woman on fire on the subway in Brooklyn is due in court Friday.
Prosecutors are expected to announce an indictment following the hearing in Downtown Brooklyn.
Sebastian Zapeta was arrested in connection with lighting the woman on fire onboard an F train in Coney Island last Sunday morning. The woman was burned so badly that teeth will likely be needed to identify her, police said.
According to prosecutors, Zapeta allegedly used a shirt to fan the flames during the random attack. He allegedly sat on a platform bench and watched the woman burn before leaving the station, police said.
After the NYPD released surveillance photos of the suspect, a group of teenagers called 911 to report the 33-year-old man after recognizing him on the subway, officials said.
Prosecutors said Zapeta identified himself in photos and surveillance video from the scene after being taken into custody. He allegedly told investigators he did not know what happened because he had been drinking a lot of liquor.
“This gruesome and senseless act of violence against a vulnerable woman will be met with the most serious consequences,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
The incident came days after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that 250 more National Guard troops would patrol the subway system during the holidays.
The NYPD also reported that crime in the transit system is down more than 6 percent from last year but some riders told PIX11 News they’re still on edge.
"A guy came up to me, stole my phone at Corona Plaza. There were about 15 cops, not one of them wanted to help me. They told me to go back to the station where I got robbed," subway rider Dave Romero said.
Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.
