New York police have identified the woman who tragically died after being set on fire on December 22 while inside a subway train as Debrina Kawam, a 61-year-old from Toms River, New Jersey. This revelation comes nine days after the horrific incident, which has raised alarms about safety in the city’s subway system.

The incident occurred on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn, where Kawam was reportedly sleeping when she was attacked by Sebastian Zapeta. The 33-year-old suspect allegedly used a lighter to ignite Kawam and then fanned the flames with his shirt, all while remaining on the scene and watching as she burned.

Zapeta, a Guatemalan national, was arrested shortly after the attack. He is currently facing serious charges, including first-degree murder and arson. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez emphasized the severity of the case, stating, “These are significant counts. Murder in the first degree carries the possibility of life without parole,” reflecting the heinous nature of the crime.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams disclosed that Kawam had a “brief stint in our homeless shelter system” and acknowledged the impact of this incident on public perception. “It reinforces what I’ve been saying: People should not be living on our subway system; they should be in a place of care. No matter where she lived, that should not have happened,” Adams commented during a press briefing. He has also called for federal charges against Zapeta, stating that such actions depict a “level of evil that cannot be tolerated.”

This tragic event has heightened concerns surrounding the safety of vulnerable populations in New York City and prompted discussions about the treatment of the homeless, emphasizing a need for greater empathy within the community. Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the incident to provide assistance as they continue to seek justice for Kawam.

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