Julian Zapeta-Calil, a Guatemalan immigrant accused of setting a sleeping lady on fire aboard a subway train in Brooklyn, was dubbed uneven because of his drinking and swearing habit, according to his roommate at the homeless shelter where he resided.
Zapeta-Calil, 33, was charged with first-degree murder and fire in connection with the stunning attack early on Sunday morning that left the unnamed woman silent. She was arraigned on Tuesday in Brooklyn Criminal Court. Surveillance video showed Zapeta-Calil gazing as lights consumed the prey on a chair.
” Alcohol-fueled erratic behavior”
Raymond Robinson, who shared a dorm with Zapeta-Calil at the Samaritan Village Forbell people’s house in East New York, described him as a large user of K2 and a regular alcoholic.
” He smoked K2, drank, and bugged out”, the New York Post quoted Robinson. When he was great, he would bug over and talk to himself, but he never hurt anyone or themselves. When he wasn’t great, he’d talk like we’re talking regular”, Robinson added.
Despite his unexpected behavior, Robinson said Zapeta-Calil frequently came across as calm and respectful. ” He was helpful. Say you only came in and needed some socks, he’d help you out”, Robinson said, adding,” That’s why this s**t f***ed my mind off because I slept next to him, and he was never like that”.
” I haven’t leave my daughter with anything but he was the kind of fella I had faith, as long as he wasn’t high”, Robinson added.
The terrible strike emerged at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue place. Authorities said Zapeta-Calil approached the sleeping girl, set her clothes on fire with a lighter, and then used a sweater to fan the flames, as captured in video evidence.
According to the prosecution, Zapeta-Calil allegedly watched the girl burn while resting a cool chair. Officials at the scene ruled that the sufferer was useless, citing” thermal wounds and smoke ingestion” as the cause of death.
past of” chemical misuse.”
Zapeta-Calil was portrayed by other shelter residents as someone who regularly drank inexpensive vodka and smoked K2. He was deported to Guatemala in 2018 but afterward returned improperly to the United States, according to the New York Times.
As per the New York Post, José Acosta, another house citizen, said Zapeta-Calil worked in construction and often sent funds back to his family in Guatemala. However, in recent weeks, some people have described him as becoming more dishevelled and far.
Juan Medrano, who also lived at the house, said Zapeta-Calil was usually “in his own earth” but noted he had never been in problems that before.
As prosecutors provide detailed information of his actions, Zapeta-Calil is still being held without bail. He officially told police that he didn’t realize the harm because he was so drunk.
