Police identify woman killed after being set on fire on New York City subway

Authorities have found the identity of the woman who was set on fire on the New York City subway, the police department announced Tuesday.

The woman is Debrina Kawam of Toms River, New Jersey, according to ABC News. The 57-year-old Kawam died Dec. 22 following the incident. 

Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, the 33-year-old Guatemalan migrant who allegedly set her on fire was charged with first-degree murder and second-degree arson earlier this month.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Jan 7, 2025.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Kawam had "a brief stint" in the city's homeless shelter system.

"Our hearts go out to the family," Adams said during a news conference Tuesday. "A horrific incident to have to live through and just watching that tape, just really, I couldn't even watch it all the way through. It was just a bad incident and it impacts on how New Yorkers feel."