Who’s Sebastian Zapeta? Guatemala migrant set a girl on fireplace on New York Metropolis subway

The suspect, recognized as 33-year-old Sebastin Zapeta, is believed to have entered the US from Guatemala roughly a yr in the past. It stays unclear whether or not he entered the nation legally or illegally.

Throughout a press convention Sunday night, New York Police Division (NYPD) officers, together with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, defined, “Because the practice pulled into the station, the suspect calmly walked as much as the sufferer. The feminine sufferer was in a seated place.”

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“The suspect used what we imagine to be a lighter to ignite the sufferer’s clothes, which turned absolutely engulfed in a matter of seconds.”

Officers on patrol on the station had been alerted to the scenario by the odor and sight of smoke. Whereas responding on the scene, they found an individual contained in the practice automobile absolutely engulfed in flames. The fireplace was extinguished with help from an MTA worker utilizing a hearth extinguisher. The sufferer was pronounced lifeless on the scene.

Elon Musk and Mayor Eric Adams condemns subway assault

Zapeta remained on the scene after the incident. He was discovered seated on a bench outdoors the practice automobile. Physique-worn cameras worn by responding officers captured clear footage of the suspect. Tisch famous, “Physique-worn cameras on the responding officers produced a transparent and detailed take a look at the killer.”

Following the discharge of the suspect’s description and images to the general public, three highschool college students acknowledged the person and known as 911. Transit officers confirmed the outline and positioned the suspect on a shifting practice. The practice was stopped on the subsequent station, the place officers boarded, recognized the person, and arrested him with out additional incident.

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New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences to the sufferer’s household, calling the assault a “mindless killing.”

“Grateful to the younger New Yorkers and transit officers who stepped as much as assist our NYPD make a fast arrest following this morning’s heinous and lethal subway assault. Any such wicked behaviour has no place in our subways, and we’re dedicated to working exhausting to make sure there’s swift justice for all victims of violent crime.”

Tesla boss Elon Musk additionally took to X (previously Twitter) to precise his frustration. “Sufficient is sufficient,” he posted, together with the Guatemala migrant’s subway CCTV shot.