A tragic incident in Brooklyn, New York, on Sunday has left the community in shock just days before Christmas.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) has arr-sted a migrant from Guatemala in connection with the horrifying d-ath of a woman who was set on fire and burned to d-e on a subway train.
The person of interest, identified by sources as 33-year-old Sebastin Zapeta, was taken into custody after the brutal crime.
A high-ranking NYPD source revealed to Fox News Digital that Zapeta entered the U.S. illegally from Guatemala in 2018, during President-elect Trump’s first term. The individual has no prior arr-sts in New York City and only one in Arizona, though details of that case remain unavailable.
The gruesome incident occurred at the Stillwell Avenue Subway station in Coney Island at approximately 7:30 a.m. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch shared details during a Sunday evening press conference.
“As the train pulled into the station, the suspect calmly walked up to the victim, who was seated,” Tisch explained. “The suspect used what we believe to be a lighter to ignite the victim’s clothing, which became fully engulfed in flames within seconds.”
Officers patrolling the station detected smoke and rushed to investigate. Upon arriving, they found the victim, still inside the train car, fully engulfed in flames.
A Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) employee used a fire extinguisher to help put out the fire, but tragically, the victim was pronounced d-ad at the scene.
Tisch noted that the person of interest remained at the scene and was seated on a bench on the platform outside the train car. Officers’ body-worn cameras provided clear footage of the suspect, aiding in the investigation.
After the NYPD released a description and photos of the suspect to the public, three high school-aged New Yorkers recognized the individual and called 911. Transit officers responded and spotted a man matching the description on another moving train.
The train was ordered to stop at the next station, where two officers boarded and arr-sted the individual without incident. A lighter was found in the suspect’s pocket.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences to the victim’s family. “My prayers are with the family of the victim in this senseless killing,” Adams stated.
He also praised the young New Yorkers and transit officers who contributed to the quick arr-st. “This type of depraved behavior has no place in our subways, and we are committed to working hard to ensure there is swift justice for all victims of violent crime.”
The incident, occurring so close to Christmas, has left many shaken. According to the New York Post, an MTA worker described the aftermath as harrowing, noting that the victim’s clothes were almost entirely “burnt off.”
Another witness, present as police processed the scene, expressed disbelief. “That s–t is crazy – it’s only three days until Christmas,” he said. “That’s messed up.”
The victim’s identity has not yet been released, and no charges had been filed at the time of the press conference.
Authorities continue to investigate, vowing to bring justice for the victim and ensure public safety in New York City’s subway system.
