Last Updated on December 23, 2024, 10:06 AM AST by Anthony Morris
A man set a homeless woman on fire in the Brooklyn Subway on Sunday morning. Reportedly, a 25-year-old migrant from Guatemala used a “lighter” to ignite her clothes.
The fire engulfed the woman, leading to the tragic and painful death of the woman who often sought shelter in the subway to sleep.
The video of the internet quickly got viral on social media, where the perpetrator Sebastian Zapeta could be seen sitting on a nearby bench, watching as she slowly fades away.
The viral video also showcased the typical Brooklyn behaviour of passengers, who continued to pass by as she burnt. Reportedly one person eventually tried to stop the fire; his efforts went in vain as the fire had already consumed the victim.
Police launches investigation into this horrific incident
Police Commissioner Jessice Tisch described this incident as one of the most depraved crimes a person could possibly commit against another human being.
She reported that the victim who is yet to be identified was in a stationary train in Brooklyn at about 7:30 local time, when she was approached by a man who used his lighter to ignite her on fire.
They went on to say that the two didn’t know each other and had no interaction before the incident, therefore the reason for the crime is still unknown.
The police have the suspect in custody while the investigation is still ongoing, with police trying to know the motive behind the attack.
According to sources, the woman was surrounded by liquor bottles and Zapeta burnt her alive using his lighter by throwing it on the blanket the woman was using, fully engulfing the woman in flames.
Officers who were near the crime scene, smelled the smoke and went to check when they saw the burning woman inside the train.
The image of the man was spread online by the New York Police Department (NYPD), after which some high-schoolers called 911 saying they saw the suspected man on some other train.
The suspect was then arrested near the Empire State Building in Manhattan, with the murder weapon in his pocket.
The viral video
The video shows the woman motionless and burning while the suspect sat in front of the train on a bench watching her.
No passer-by stopped to help the victim or alerted the authorities, while the suspect walked away some time later after watching the woman burn.
Public reaction
The incident has sent shockwaves across the country with public showing their anger and calling for justice.
They are also demanding the need for fire extinguishers on the subway saying that, “Subways are not safe to travel anymore.”
“Another American’s blood on the hands of the Biden/Harris administration. How many Americans will die before all the evil they unleashed on our country is gone. Sadly we cannot imprison them,” wrote a user named Karon while another user said, “This has to be the most macabre, horrific crime I have read in a while.”
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
