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Man Who Allegedly Lit Subway Passenger on Fire Charged With Murder

HORRIFIC

Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, has also been indicted on an arson charge.

A photo of a New York City subway car.
NurPhoto/NurPhoto/Getty

The man suspected of lighting a woman on fire in a Brooklyn subway car faces life without parole after he was charged with murder. Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, has been indicted on charges of murder in the first and second degree and arson, according to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. The horrific scene unfolded on an early morning F train stopped at the Coney Island-Stillwell Ave. stop in south Brooklyn on Dec. 22. Zapeta is accused of igniting the woman’s clothes and “fanning the flames” with a shirt. “These are significant counts. Murder in the first degree carries the possibility of life without parole. It’s the most serious statute in New York state law and my office is very confident about the evidence in the case and to hold Zapeta accountable for his dastardly deeds,” Gonzalez said. Zapeta, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 7.

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