Horrific Subway Arson Claims Life of New Jersey Woman

Last week, a horrific incident occurred on a subway train in Brooklyn, resulting in the death of a 57-year-old woman identified as Debrina Kawam, hailing from Toms River, New Jersey. Reports indicate that Kawam was set on fire while on board a stationary subway car on December 22; due to the extent of her injuries, authorities struggled to identify her for several days after the attack. The NYPD has yet to disclose an official cause of death for Kawam.

According to statements from the Coalition for the Homeless, Kawam may have been experiencing homelessness at the time, though police were unable to confirm her housing status. The New York Post reported that she had been utilizing shelters in New York City since at least September and had a brief stay at the Franklin Williams Women’s Shelter before leaving just days prior to the incident. Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences and lamented the tragedy at a press briefing, noting the disturbing nature of the crime and its impact on New Yorkers' sense of safety.

Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old previously deported immigrant from Guatemala, was apprehended shortly after the incident and faces a range of serious charges, including first-degree murder and arson. Surveillance footage captured the moment he approached Kawam, who was motionless and likely asleep, before igniting her clothing with a lighter, causing her to become engulfed in flames almost instantly. Eyewitness accounts reveal that the suspect remained at the scene, sitting on a nearby bench as emergency responders attempted to extinguish the fire.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez described the attack as malicious and intentional, occurring at a time when New Yorkers were preparing for the holidays. As authorities pursue further charges against Zapeta under federal arson laws, the focus remains on the need for better care for the vulnerable populations that find themselves on the streets and subway systems of New York City.