A memorial service was held on Sunday evening in Brooklyn for Debrina Kawam, a 57-year-old woman tragically set on fire in a New York City subway in December. The service, which took place at the First Baptist Church of Sheepshead Bay, was attended by prominent figures, including civil rights leader Rev. Kevin McCall, Bishop Alfred Phillips, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, NYC Commissioner on Racial Equity Imam Ahmed Ali, and NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta.
While the memorial service provided an opportunity for public remembrance, the date of Kawam’s private funeral remains unknown, as her family plans to hold a private service later, which will not be disclosed to the media.
The tragic incident occurred on December 22 on a stopped F train at the Coney Island station in Brooklyn. Prosecutors allege that Sebastian Zapeta, a Guatemalan citizen, set Kawam on fire before calmly sitting on a platform bench and watching as she burned. Police reported that Kawam’s clothes became fully engulfed in flames in a matter of seconds. Despite the quick actions of an MTA employee who used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames, Kawam was pronounced dead at the scene.
It took nearly two weeks for authorities to identify Kawam, with initial reports suggesting she might have been homeless. However, her family later confirmed her identity. Kawam, originally from Little Falls, New Jersey, was known as a popular student and cheerleader. In her earlier years, she worked for Merck and enjoyed traveling, though her life took a downturn in the 2000s.
Sebastian Zapeta, the accused, is facing multiple charges, including murder and arson, with a maximum sentence of life in prison. Zapeta had previously been deported in 2018 and had entered the U.S. illegally.
Despite a decrease in subway crime in recent years, with a 5.4% drop in 2023, safety concerns persist. NYC Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced increased police presence on trains and platforms, especially at the city’s 50 highest-crime stations, to ensure rider safety.
