New Jersey Woman Dies in New York Subway Fire
A tragic incident in New York City’s subway system resulted in the death of Debrina Kawam, a 57-year-old woman from New Jersey, as confirmed by police on Tuesday. Kawam, who had previously worked with pharmaceutical company Merck from 2000 to 2002, faced difficult times and recently sought shelter in a New York homeless facility, according to the Department of Social Services.
Authorities located Kawam’s family in Toms River, New Jersey, and informed them of her passing on December 22. Attempts to reach her relatives by The Associated Press were made on Tuesday. Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences, stating, “Hearts go out to the family — a horrific incident to have to live through,” during an unrelated press event.
The incident occurred amidst other violent acts in the subway, including an attack hours later where a 45-year-old man was pushed onto the tracks in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. The victim was hospitalized in critical condition, and a person of interest is in custody.
While personal safety in subways generally mirrors that of the city at large, alarming crimes like stabbings and shoves continue to cause concern for the millions who rely on the subway system each year. According to police statistics, major crimes in subways have decreased this year compared to last, but the number of homicides rose from five to nine through November.
In the case of Kawam, prosecutors revealed that she was asleep on a stationary train at Brooklyn’s Coney Island when Sebastian Zapeta, 33, allegedly set her clothing on fire and exacerbated the flames using a shirt. He reportedly sat nearby while she was engulfed in flames.
Identifying Kawam proved challenging, with authorities utilizing forensic methods and video footage to determine her identity. Zapeta has been charged with murder and arson but has not entered a plea. His defense attorney has refrained from commenting outside court.
Federal immigration officials noted that Zapeta is from Guatemala and entered the U.S. without documentation. His address coincides with a shelter providing housing and substance abuse support. His arrest followed a tip from high school students who recognized him from circulated images.
Zapeta admitted to being the individual in the surveillance footage but claimed heavy drinking impaired his memory of the event. He remains incarcerated with a court appearance scheduled for January 7.
As the subway often serves as an informal refuge for the homeless, Kawam’s presence on the train is not unusual. Despite legal provisions ensuring shelter for the homeless, some individuals opt for the trains due to safety concerns in shelters. On the day of the fire, temperatures in Brooklyn were below freezing, further complicating the situation for those without adequate housing.
“No matter where she lived, that should not have happened,” Mayor Adams emphasized, as the social services department pledges to enhance outreach efforts to homeless individuals in subways and on the streets, encouraging shelter usage.
