The woman tragically killed in a horrific subway fire last week has been identified as 57-year-old Debrina Kawam from Toms River, New Jersey. The incident occurred on December 22nd in Brooklyn, and the severity of her burns initially hindered identification efforts. The NYPD has not released an official cause of death.

Investigators at the scene of the crime where a woman was fatally burned on a subway train in Brooklyn, New York, on December 22, 2024. (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)

While the Coalition for the Homeless suggested Kawam might have been experiencing homelessness, police haven't confirmed this. The New York Post, citing police sources, reported she had been in NYC shelters since at least September 9th, and was assigned a bed at the Franklin Williams Women’s Shelter in the Bronx on November 30th but left on December 2nd.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Addresses the Tragedy

Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences and acknowledged the impact of this incident on New Yorkers. He reiterated his stance on addressing homelessness in the subway system, emphasizing the need for supportive care rather than street living. He stressed that regardless of Kawam's housing situation, the attack was unacceptable.

The suspect, 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta, a Guatemalan national previously deported in 2018, faces charges of first- and second-degree murder and arson. Surveillance footage reportedly shows him approaching Kawam, who appeared to be sleeping, and setting her alight. He then remained at the scene. Zapeta could face life in prison without parole if convicted of first-degree murder.

Sebastian Zapeta being escorted by NYPD officers following the subway fire incident on December 22, 2024. (Courtesy: G.N. Miller/New York Post)

Sebastian Zapeta appearing in court on December 24, 2024, following the subway fire incident. (AP Photo/Curtis Means via Pool)

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez described the act as malicious and shocking, particularly during the holiday season. Mayor Adams' office is working with ICE to explore additional federal arson charges against Zapeta. ICE confirmed Zapeta's prior deportation and illegal re-entry into the U.S.