Religious leaders and community members came together for a vigil Thursday night, honoring the woman who was burned to death at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue train station Sunday.
“Her life mattered, and we believe that we can do something and that anyone can participate, and that is the power of prayer,” Rev. Kevin McCall, founder of the Crisis Action Center, said.
What You Need To Know
- A vigil at the Coney Island-Still Avenue subway station Thursday night honored the life of the woman who was burned to death on a train Sunday
- Her name has not been identified
- Police say Sebastian Zapeta faces two murder charges and one arson charge
- He is due to return to court Friday
The name of the woman has not been released.
Sebastian Zapeta has been charged with two counts of murder and one charge for arson after being taken into custody Sunday.
The woman was set on fire onboard a stationary F train around 7:30 a.m. Officials say surveillance cameras in the subway helped in the investigation.
“Thank God they caught the person who did this, but it’s not just the person’s fault, it’s the system’s fault,” McCall said.
Police say the officers in the station Sunday were on the level above the train and unable to reach the woman in time.
Evangeline Byars, an MTA train operator, says more attention is needed on the subway.
“We know what the solutions are. They need to re-institute the transit police to make sure all future classes are dedicated to the subway,” Byars said.
Police couldn’t confirm whether the victim and/or Zapeta were homeless, but did say it appears they didn’t know each other.
Federal immigration officials say Zapeta is from Guatamala and was deported in 2018 before illegally reentering the U.S.
He is due in court Friday.