Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a Guatemalan migrant accused of burning a woman alive on a Brooklyn subway train, was known for his heavy drinking and daily use of K2, a synthetic drug, according to his former shelter roommates. Zapeta-Calil, 33, was charged with first-degree murder after allegedly setting a woman on fire on an F train at Coney Island station.
On the morning of the incident, Zapeta-Calil was at the Samaritan Village Forbell men’s shelter in East New York, where he shared breakfast with a roommate. The breakfast consisted of French toast, sausage, and grits, a normal start to the day. However, his actions later took a shocking turn.
Raymond Robinson, who lived at the shelter and slept next to Zapeta-Calil, recalled that his roommate would often act erratically after smoking K2 and drinking. “He smoked K2, drank, and bugged out,” Robinson said.
“He would talk to himself when he was high, but he never harmed anybody or himself. When he wasn’t high, he’d talk like we’re talking regular.” Zapeta-Calil would spend around $30 a day on the drug, and his behavior would become increasingly erratic after drinking alcohol.
Zapeta-Calil allegedly set the woman on fire in a drunken and drug-fueled state, with police reporting that he told them he could not remember what happened. At his arraignment on Tuesday, he was charged with first-degree and second-degree murder and first-degree arson. The district attorney said Zapeta-Calil could be seen in video footage fanning the flames and calmly sitting on a bench while the woman burned inside the train.
Robinson, who has been living at the Brooklyn shelter for nearly a year, described Zapeta-Calil as a kind and respectful person when sober. “He was a nice guy, quiet, he kept to himself,” Robinson said. “He was friendly. If you needed something, like socks, he’d help you out.
He was very gentle, nice, and spoke with good manners.” Robinson expressed shock over the incident, as he never imagined Zapeta-Calil would be capable of such violence. “I wouldn’t leave my daughter with anybody but him, as long as he wasn’t high,” he added.
Zapeta-Calil had a habit of drinking cheap vodka, and this behavior was common among other migrants at the shelter. “The migrants mainly get up in the morning, leave, and come back drunk,” Robinson explained.
“He would come back drunk most days.” Juan Medrano, another resident of the shelter, said Zapeta-Calil kept to himself and didn’t work, like many others at the shelter. “He was in his world,” Medrano said. “He was kind of awkward, but he was never in trouble at the shelter.”
This tragic incident has left those who knew Zapeta-Calil in disbelief, as the man they once thought of as harmless and even trustworthy has now been accused of a horrific crime. The case continues to unfold, and many are left to wonder what led Zapeta-Calil to commit such an unthinkable act.
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Archer Bannister is a journalist with 4 years of experience covering hard-hitting stories. Currently working with Mikeandjonpodcast, Archer specializes in delivering timely and in-depth updates on a variety of topics, including crime news, politics, and national issues affecting the USA. His expertise and dedication to delivering accurate, impactful news make him a trusted voice for audiences seeking to stay informed on critical topics.
