On December 22, 2024, a tragic incident occurred on an F train in Brooklyn's Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station where a woman, identified as Amelia Carter, was set on fire by a Guatemalan migrant. The attack took place around 7:30 a.m. while the victim was seated and possibly sleeping. The suspect, identified as Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old who had previously been deported from the U.S. in 2018, approached Carter and used a lighter to ignite her clothing, leading to her being burned to death. The act was described by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit.”

 

The aftermath saw a swift response from law enforcement, with Zapeta-Calil being apprehended approximately eight hours later at a different subway station in Manhattan. He was charged with first- and second-degree murder, and arson. The arrest was facilitated by clear surveillance footage and the quick response of officers who were patrolling near the scene when they noticed smoke. The suspect's immigration status became a focal point in the discourse following the crime, with reports indicating he had re-entered the U.S. illegally after his deportation and had been living in New York City shelters.

 

This incident reignited debates on immigration policy, crime, and public safety in New York City. Social media platforms like X saw posts expressing outrage over the crime, with some users pointing fingers at immigration policies under the Biden administration for allowing the suspect to remain in the country. The brutal nature of the crime, captured in chilling videos that circulated online, shocked the community, leading to calls for increased security measures in the subway system and a broader discussion on how to handle immigration and crime prevention in urban settings.