New York Subway Violence: Two Harrowing Attacks Leave City Reeling

A woman was burned alive on an F train and a man was shoved onto subway tracks in separate incidents, raising concerns about safety in New York City's transit system.

• Debrina Kawam, a 61-year-old woman from New Jersey, was identified as the victim of a December 22 subway attack where she was set on fire while sleeping on an F train in Brooklyn. The suspect, Sebastian Zapeta, a Guatemalan national previously deported in 2018, has been indicted on murder and arson charges.
• Video evidence shows Zapeta fanning the flames with a shirt and watching as Kawam burned to death before fleeing the scene. He has claimed to have no memory of the incident due to heavy drinking.
• On December 31, a 45-year-old man was pushed onto the tracks at the 18th Street subway station in Manhattan, narrowly surviving after being struck by a train. The victim remains hospitalized with serious injuries, including a fractured skull and broken ribs.
• The suspect in the shoving incident, 23-year-old Kamel Hawkins, was arrested shortly after the attack and charged with attempted murder. Hawkins has a history of prior arrests, including charges of assault and harassment.
• These incidents, alongside a rise in violent crimes on the subway, have prompted criticism of safety measures in New York City's transit system, despite officials citing overall crime reductions in recent months.

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