Debrina Kawam, 61, identified as woman burned to death ‘by migrant’ on NYC subway as NYPD shares horrifying new detail

The woman who was set on fire and burned to death on a New York City subway car has been identified as Debrina Kawam of New Jersey. 

Shocking footage stunned the Big Apple as Kawam, 61, was seen engulfed in flames in horror scenes on the train near Coney Island. 

She was allegedly set on fire by illegal immigrant Sebastian Zepeta, who cops say used a lighter before fanning the flames with his shirt. 

Zepeta, 33, is facing murder and arson charges following the horror incident. 

Officials used fingerprint data, dental records and DNA evidence to identify Kawam, and said she was believed to have been homeless.  

Kawam was reportedly sleeping on the subway car around 7:30am on Sunday at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn when she was set ablaze. 

The footage of the moments after Kawam was set on fire went viral as it showed an NYPD officer walking past the fire while a man, allegedly Zepeta, watched on. 

NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told a press conference that officers who responded were not aware the suspect was on the scene at the time. 

She was allegedly set on fire by illegal immigrant Sebastian Zepeta 

Hours after the shocking death, the NYPD released images of the suspect. 

Zapeta eventually boarded the F line again later in the day, and he was arrested on the subway after he was flagged by high schoolers whop recognized him from the police images. 

NYPD officers alerted MTA, who stopped the train eight stops north from the sighting at Herald Square in Midtown Manhattan. Cops boarded the subway and detained Zapeta-Calil as he sat in a busy carriage, as caught in dramatic videos shared online.

Police Commissioner Tisch praised the police response to the heinous incident as ‘an example of great technology and even greater old fashioned police work’ during a press conference on Sunday night.

However, after footage of the horror incident went viral, many questioned the response of the NYPD who appeared to do nothing as the woman burned in the subway car. 

Shocked social media users have blasted the police response – describing the behavior of cops caught on camera as ‘cowardly’ and ‘shameful’ while calling for them to be named or fired.

Sebastian Zapeta-Calil is shown sitting on a subway bench watching as the woman he set fire to burns alive. In front of him is an NYPD officer who walked past him, unaware he was responsible for the sickening crime 

Zepeta, 33, is facing murder and arson charges following the horror incident 

‘Police officer walks by. Doesn’t take his jacket off to smother the flames. Not his problem. Guess he doesn’t get paid too much. Can we find out who he is? His behavior is shameful,’ one person wrote on X.

DailyMail.com has asked for comment on why cops appear to have strolled past the burning woman several times without helping. 

Condemnation of the response from officials was led on Tuesday by New York Congressman Ritchie Torres, who slammed fellow Democrat New York Governor Kathy Hochul. 

The same day Kawam was identified, Hochul shared a tweet boasting of ‘dedicating our efforts to putting more money in your pockets and building an Empire State where everyone has an opportunity to succeed.’ 

Torres said in response: ‘On the same day the murder victim of the subway fire, Debrina Kawam (61) was finally identified, Governor Hochul feels the need to take a victory lap. 

”Mission accomplished’ is the ultimate form of gaslighting.’