MTG Urges Death Penalty for Illegal Alien in NYC Subway Killing

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and other lawmakers are demanding swift justice, including the death penalty, for Sebastian Zapeta, a Guatemalan national accused of setting a woman on fire on a New York City subway train.

The brutal incident has sparked outrage and calls for tougher penalties.

Zapeta, 33, was charged with first- and second-degree murder and first-degree arson after the attack, which occurred in Brooklyn.

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According to law enforcement, he allegedly used a lighter to ignite the woman’s clothing, engulfing her in flames within seconds.

Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg stated in court on Tuesday that Zapeta further fanned the flames with a shirt.

Rep. Greene expressed her views on X (formerly Twitter), calling for an expedited trial and capital punishment. “Death penalty, don’t waste money on a lengthy trial. Convict him and finish him. What he did is so incredibly evil,” Greene wrote. “I can’t watch the video anymore. And how it seems like no one tried to save her is beyond me. Maybe they did but it doesn’t seem like it.”

Death penalty, don’t waste money on a lengthy trial.
Convict him and finish him.

What he did is so incredibly evil. I can’t watch the video anymore. And how it seems like no one tried to save her is beyond me. Maybe they did but it doesn’t seem like it. https://t.co/IZspjLq73Y

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) December 24, 2024

She was not alone in her call for severe consequences.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., also voiced her support for the death penalty, writing, “Death penalty” in a post on X.

Death penalty. https://t.co/uBlRLTRy9D

— Anna Paulina Luna (@realannapaulina) December 23, 2024

Similarly, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., condemned the incident while criticizing lenient crime policies. “A woman was intentionally lit on fire on the subway today. Democrats’ soft-on-crime policies do not work,” Biggs posted.

A woman was intentionally lit on fire on the subway today.

Democrats’ soft-on-crime policies do not work. https://t.co/c5GYHGkiMt

— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) December 23, 2024

The attack occurred on a Brooklyn subway train and was described in detail by New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

During remarks on Sunday, Tisch noted, “The suspect used what we believe to be a lighter to ignite the victim’s clothing, which became fully engulfed in a matter of seconds.”

The victim’s identity has not been released, and further details about her condition remain undisclosed.

Zapeta’s next court appearance is scheduled for Friday, according to public records. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

The case has also reignited concerns over immigration enforcement. A spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Zapeta had been deported in 2018 but had illegally re-entered the United States at an unknown date and location.

The gruesome nature of the crime and Zapeta’s immigration history have fueled debates over crime, punishment, and border security. The attack has drawn sharp criticism of policies perceived as being too lenient on crime and immigration violations, with lawmakers pointing to this case as an example of failures in enforcement.

As the legal process unfolds, calls for accountability continue to mount. Conservative lawmakers have emphasized the need for stringent penalties to deter violent crimes, particularly those committed by individuals with prior deportations.

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