The apathy of witnesses in such a horrifying situation is deeply disturbing.

by
Sharing is Caring!

On December 22, 2024, a shocking and tragic incident unfolded on the New York City subway. A woman, who was asleep on an F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn, was set on fire by a man named Sebastian Zapeta-Calil. The flames quickly engulfed her, and despite the presence of bystanders and authorities, no one intervened to help her.

Videos and body camera footage captured the horrifying scene: Zapeta-Calil allegedly ignited the woman’s clothing with a lighter and then calmly walked out of the train car. As the woman burned, police officers walked by, looking for the source of the smoke smell, but did not take immediate action. It was only after three teenagers recognized Zapeta-Calil from surveillance footage and reported him to authorities that he was arrested a few hours later.

See also  Why Is Everyone Making Such A Big Deal About One Shooting When 14 Million Crimes Are Committed In The U.S. Each Year?

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and Zapeta-Calil was charged with first-degree murder and arson. The incident has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about the response of both bystanders and authorities.

One of the most disturbing aspects of this incident is the lack of intervention from bystanders. Despite the clear and immediate danger, people watched and filmed the scene without offering help. This “bystander effect” is a well-documented phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help a victim when other people are present.




See also  WEF Survey Shows That Business Leaders Are Deeply Concerned That A Global Recession Is Coming

Sources:

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/nyc-subway-woman-set-on-fire-suspect-arrested/

https://www.newsweek.com/new-york-police-nypd-woman-set-fire-subway-2005334