Last Updated on 3 weeks ago by Vijay Kumar
A shocking and tragic incident in New York’s subway system has left the city shaken, as authorities have identified the victim as 57-year-old Debrina Kawam from Toms River, New Jersey. According to the New York City Police Department, Kawam had recently moved to New York and had only brief contact with the city’s homeless outreach services, including a short stay in a shelter.
The incident occurred on December 22 at the Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue Station in Brooklyn. Prosecutors allege that 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta approached Kawam while she was asleep on a stationary F train and deliberately set her clothing on fire. Authorities further claim he intensified the flames by fanning them with a shirt, turning the situation into a horrifying scene. Kawam was pronounced dead at the spot.
The saddest hour in New York City subway history happened one year ago today. And too many people want to forget her name. We will not. Say her name. Debrina Kawam.
On December 22, 2024, Debrina was brutally murdered on an F train at the Coney Island Stillwell Avenue station. It… pic.twitter.com/4b1CeS1bQA
— Curtis Sliwa (@CurtisSliwa) December 22, 2025
Police acted swiftly after the attack, releasing surveillance images of the suspect. Within hours, a group of high school students recognized him and alerted authorities, leading to his arrest. Zapeta has since been charged with murder and arson, with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office describing the act as malicious and deliberate.
Identifying the victim proved challenging, as officials relied on forensic evidence and surveillance footage to confirm her identity days later. New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed condolences to the victim’s family, calling the incident horrific and highlighting ongoing concerns about people living in subway systems instead of safe shelters.
Authorities have stated that there is no evidence Kawam and Zapeta knew each other. Federal officials say Zapeta is originally from Guatemala and had entered the United States illegally. During questioning, prosecutors noted that he admitted to heavy alcohol consumption and claimed he could not remember the incident, though he identified himself in surveillance footage.
City agencies, including the Department of Social Services, have said they are working to locate Kawam’s family while also strengthening outreach efforts for homeless individuals across New York. Meanwhile, Zapeta remains in custody and has yet to enter a plea, as the case continues to unfold and raise serious questions about public safety and homelessness in the city.
My name is Vijay Kumar. I work as content writer and founder of this website. I am studying BSC IT. I has been writing content since 2022. I also learn about journalism.
