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NEW YORK CITY, NY (WSAU) – Authorities have identified the illegal migrant from Guatemala who is suspected of setting a woman on fire while riding New York City’s F train over the weekend.
According to a source who spoke with the New York Post, Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, has been identified in the murder investigation and is being held while an autopsy on the victim is completed.
DA Eric Gonzalez addressed the crime in a statement on Monday, saying, “The depravity of this horrific crime is beyond comprehension, and my office is committed to bringing the perpetrator to justice.”
“This gruesome and senseless act of violence against a vulnerable woman will be met with the most serious consequences. Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe on our subways, and we will do everything in our power to ensure accountability in this case,” his statement continued.
Zapeta-Calil was initially arrested at the U.S. southern border in Arizona in June of 2018, and was deported a week later, according to Marie Ferguson, a spokesman for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. However, he re-entered the country illegally and ICE officials will ask that he be placed under a detainer while the legal proceedings are ongoing.
According to data gathered in September, the number of New York City subway murders increased by at least 60% this year, and this attack comes just days after Governor Kathy Hochul ordered an additional 250 National Guard members to join the 1,000 troops already working to secure the city’s subway system during the holiday rush.
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