The man accused of setting a woman on fire while she was sleeping on a New York City subway car was indicted on murder and arson charges by a grand jury on Friday, prosecutors announced.
Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was not present at the brief hearing in Brooklyn court, according to the district attorney’s office. His court-appointed attorney did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Zapeta was indicted on one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, and one count of first-degree arson, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez confirmed. Earlier this week, he was charged with the same offenses in a criminal complaint at Brooklyn Criminal Court.
“My office is confident in the evidence in this case and our ability to hold Zapeta accountable for his heinous actions,” Gonzalez said, calling the attack a “malicious act” against a “sleeping and vulnerable woman.”
