In December 2024, a horrific incident unfolded in the New York City subway system. Debrina Kawam, a 57-year-old resident of Toms River, New Jersey, was brutally set on fire while sleeping on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn. Initial reports incorrectly stated her age as 61. Mayor Eric Adams, in a press conference on December 31st, 2024, confirmed Kawam’s identity and expressed profound sorrow, stating that the incident was “a horrific incident to have to live through.” He noted Kawam had a brief history with the city’s homeless shelter system.
The attack occurred around 7:30 a.m. on December 22nd, 2024. A man, later identified as 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, was seen near Kawam before setting her alight and fleeing the scene. Subway riders alerted authorities hours later after Zapeta-Calil was identified in police body camera footage, as reported by NBC News. He was swiftly apprehended and indicted on serious charges. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office filed charges including one count of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and one count of first-degree arson. A conviction on the first-degree murder charge carries a life sentence.
The tragic death of Debrina Kawam highlights a concerning trend. According to the *New York Post*, at least ten murders occurred on New York City subways in 2024, marking a 25-year high, surpassing even the numbers seen in 2022. These incidents encompassed a variety of violent acts, including beatings, slashings, and intentional burnings. Data from VitalCityNYC.org indicates that subway killings have occurred annually in New York City since at least 1997, with over 80 such incidents recorded since then. Kawam’s death underscores the ongoing need for enhanced safety measures and increased attention to the violence plaguing the city’s subway system.