Man Charged in NYC Subway Death Was Previously Deported

Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old Guatemalan citizen, has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and first-degree arson following the death of a woman set on fire aboard a New York City subway car. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Zapeta-Calil had been deported in 2018 after entering the U.S. unlawfully and was living in Brooklyn at the time of the attack.

The incident occurred Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Stillwell Avenue Subway Station, where the victim was sleeping. Police said Zapeta-Calil lit her clothing on fire with a lighter before calmly sitting on a nearby platform bench. Body-worn cameras on responding officers captured clear images of the suspect, aiding in his identification.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the footage provided a “detailed look at the killer,” who remained at the scene until his arrest. The woman, whose identity has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Federal officials plan to file an immigration detainer for Zapeta-Calil, seeking his return to ICE custody following the conclusion of his criminal case, potentially leading to his deportation.