Amelia Carter, a 29-year-old nurse from Orlando, Florida, was tragically killed on December 22, 2024. She was set on fire while sleeping on an F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn.
Amelia worked at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and had moved there two years ago. Her boyfriend, Shaun Michael, said she was traveling to visit her grandmother in Queens when the incident occurred.
The suspect, Sebastian Zapeta, is a 33-year-old illegal immigrant from Guatemala with a history of violent crimes. He allegedly set Amelia’s clothes on fire with a lighter. Despite attempts to save her, she died at the scene.
Zapeta had been following Amelia for a week. He was arrested after being recognized by high school students from surveillance footage. Police found him near the train and took him into custody without any issues. They also found a lighter with him.
There are reports that some people want investigators to say the body is not Amelia’s but belongs to a homeless woman, though it’s unclear why. Before this, Amelia had reported receiving threatening phone calls linked to certain groups.
Amelia had interned for Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign and leaned right politically in 2024. She was involved in protests after the killing of Laken Riley.
