The man accused of killing a woman sleeping on a New York City subway car by setting her on fire pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and arson at a court hearing on Tuesday.

NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of burning a sleeping woman to death inside a New York City subway train is set to be arraigned Tuesday on murder and arson charges. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, will appear in Brooklyn court in connection with the killing of Debrina Kawam, 57.

The deadly fire on the F train was one of several high-profile acts of violence in New York City's subway system at the end of last year, even as transit crime dropped overall in 2024. The NYPD on Monday pledged to send 200 more officers into the subway, with a focus on train cars and platforms.

A 23-year-old man faces attempted murder and assault charges after he allegedly pushed another man onto New York City subway tracks as a train approached, police say.

A man accused of setting a sleeping woman on fire and killing her on a New York subway is scheduled to be arraigned on murder and arson charges Tuesday morning.

Police said Sebastian Zapeta ignited the woman’s clothing while she slept on the F train as it approached Brooklyn’s Stillwell Avenue station on Sunday

The brother of a man who was shoved onto subway tracks ahead of an incoming train in New York City on New Year’s Eve says he's expected to make a full recovery.

Sebastian Zapeta, the man accused of setting a woman on fire on the NYC subway, pleads not guilty in the death of Debrina Kawam.