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Authorities in New York have officially charged an illegal immigrant with first-degree murder and other charges after he set a sleeping woman on fire aboard a subway train in Brooklyn.
Some shit you should know before you read: On December 22, Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old Guatemalan national illegally residing in the US, approached a sleeping woman on the F train in Brooklyn and used a lighter to set her clothing on fire. After setting her on fire, Zapeta-Calil fanned the flames with a shirt in what prosecutors say was an effort to make sure they spread further. After this, Zapeta-Calil was seen on camera calmly leaving the train car and then sitting on a bench in front of the subway as he watched the woman burn to death. The victim, whose identity remains unknown, was believed to be homeless.

What’s going on now: Today, Zapeta-Calil was formally indicted by a Brooklyn grand jury on charges of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and first-degree arson. If convicted of the first-degree murder charge, he faces a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, the most severe penalty under New York state law. He waived his appearance during Friday’s court hearing but will be required to attend his arraignment on January 7, when the indictment will be unsealed.
In court, Zapeta-Calil’s defense team has hinted at a potential insanity defense, requesting a psychiatric evaluation for their client. Authorities have also confirmed that federal immigration officials plan to request custody of Zapeta-Calil following the resolution of the criminal case, as he is unlawfully in the United States after a prior deportation.
Digging Deeper: According to authorities, Zapeta-Calil was deported from the United States on June 7, 2018, just days after illegally entering the country through Sonoita, Arizona, on June 1. Despite this removal, Zapeta-Calil unlawfully re-entered the United States at an unspecified time and location. Federal immigration officials have confirmed that no prior criminal charges were reported against him in the US before his current indictment, indicating that he entered the US undetected.