A devastating crash recently occurred on the Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line. The suspect, 45-year-old Sebastián Zapeta, has been charged with murder and arson for allegedly murdering the woman by dousing her with gasoline and lighting her on fire. The altercation occurred near the Clark/Lake station at approximately 9:25 PM on Monday.
The victim, Debrina Kawam, formerly of Toms River, New Jersey, was unhoused. Advocates have stated that she had been sleeping on the train when the confrontation began and got out of hand. Eyewitnesses characterized the murderous scene as chaotic, but Zapeta was seen pouring a flammable substance over Kawam before setting her on fire.
Witnesses like James Zadroga and Andrea McGowan recalled the horrific moments that followed the attack. Another witness said it broke their heart to see Kawam suffering.
“Just seeing her lying on the ground and she was kind of hyperventilating and in a lot of pain. You could tell she was in really bad shape. All the medics were down there and there was a big turnout as far as responders and so forth.” – Fox 32 witness
According to another witness, she saw Kawam receiving CPR as emergency responders were trying to save her life.
“I just saw a lady that was laying on the ground, and they were trying to give her CPR,” the witness said, adding: “And she looked like she was in an awful lot of pain.” – NBC Chicago witness
This particular situation has certainly garnered a great deal of public interest. It feels eerily similar to a deplorable incident here in New York City late last year, when a 57-year-old woman was ignited on a subway car and ultimately died from her injuries.
After the incident, Blue Line train services resumed around 1:30 AM Tuesday, operating normally by morning. The violent nature of this attack has left the community stunned. Now Americans are crying out to reclaim their safety and their freedom in our public transit systems.
Though investigations are ongoing, Sebastián Zapeta is still in jail, charged with high-profile crimes against the public. While the tragic event was a profound loss, it has opened essential dialogues around the vulnerability of unhoused individuals. Yet, it underscores the urgent need for improved safety measures within our transit systems.