Video of the horrific death on Sunday of a woman set aflame on a New York City subway car appears to show police officers standing by as she burns alive.
In another turn of events, a man who resembles the suspect who lit her on fire, identified as a 33-year-old Guatemalan man in the country illegally, sits on a nearby bench as she burns on Sunday morning. The suspect, Sebastian Zapeta, even appears to fan his jacket at her on the Brooklyn subway platform.
The New York Police Department arrested Zapeta, whom officials said lives at a homeless shelter in Brooklyn, at a different subway station, in midtown Manhattan.
The footage and images captured of the woman burning alive have prompted people on social media to criticize the NYPD for how officers responded to the crime. Police defended officers’ response, beginning when officers patrolling the Stillwell Avenue station smelled and saw smoke coming from the F train.
Police said one officer, visible in footage near the woman aflame, was trying to control the crime scene as other officers tried to get fire extinguishers and Metropolitan Transit Authority workers. They eventually extinguished the flames, though she was pronounced dead at the scene.
“I think he did his job perfectly as his fellow officers went and got MTA workers, got fire extinguishers, and eventually were able to extinguish the individual,” NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta told reporters on Sunday.
But as the footage drew criticism, police body camera images and surveillance footage were key to tracking down Zapeta, who an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement spokesperson said was in the country illegally after having been deported.
Three high school-aged people identified the suspect and called the police who then apprehended him, NYPD Chief Jessica Tisch said.
Zapeta has been charged with murder and arson, court records show. The victim had not been identified as of Tuesday evening.
Suspect appears in court
Zapeta appeared in a Brooklyn court Tuesday for his arraignment, where Judge Jung Park ordered that he remain in custody.
His next court appearance is Friday, when he is expected to enter a plea. The three felony counts with which he has been charged all carry maximum sentences of life in prison.
