A horrendous subway attack in Brooklyn, New York, left a woman charred to death.
A 33-year-old Guatemalan migrant has been detained and has been charged for allegedly setting a woman ablaze.
The incident was captured by a camera and the disturbing visuals have drawn sharp criticism from officials that including Mayor Eric Adams and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
The suspect, who was named Sebastian Zapeta, was arrested after a manhunt was launched.
Guatemalan Migrant Sebastian Zapeta Arrested in Fatal Subway Attack on Woman in New York
Sebastian Zapeta was identified through body-worn footage and the active cooperation of the public.
The gory episode happened at the Stillwell Avenue Subway station in Coney Island, Brooklyn at 7.30 in the morning.
The suspect had used a lighter to set fire to the clothes of the victim and within seconds the clothes turned into an inferno.
The Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch detailed the chronology of the events and said,
“As the train pulled into the station, the suspect calmly walked up to the victim. The female victim was in a seated position. The suspect (Sebastian Zapeta) used what we believe to be a lighter to ignite the victim’s clothing, which became fully engulfed in a matter of seconds.”
Police officers who were on patrol duty were alerted by the smell of the smoke and responded instantaneously. On reaching the spot they found the victim engulfed in flames.
The Police along with an MTA employee using a fire extinguisher managed to douse the fire but the victim was declared dead at the scene.
After carrying out his deadly act, Sebastian Zapeta remained at the station and was caught on camera sitting on a bench outside the train car.
The footage from the camera helped to identify the suspect and he was later in the day spotted on another train and was identified as three high school students.
Sebastian Zapeta’s pictures were flashed and it led to his arrest. He was wearing the same apparel, a grey hoodie and paint-splattered pants which were seen in the footage.
A lighter which he had used to set the victim on fire was also recovered from his possession.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he was outraged by the pointless killing and expressed his deep sympathy for the victim’s family.
He also thanked the citizens of New York and the transit officers who helped the NYPD to apprehend the suspect quickly.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk also expressed his anger and frustration and said “enough is enough.”
Sketch details are emerging about the suspect who was a migrant from Guatemala and entered the US in 2018.
It is not clear if he entered the US legally and the authorities are checking his immigration status. The victim’s identity has not been revealed.
The incident has once again divided the nation and the debate has started on illegal immigrants in the US.
President-elect Donald Trump has already expressed strong views on deporting illegal immigrants and even stated that he will use the National Guards to complete the task.
