Teen Heroes Denied $10K Reward for Catching Subway Arsonist Because They Called 911 Instead of Crime Stoppers Hotline

Three Brooklyn teenagers who helped catch a subway arsonist are being denied the $10,000 reward promised by the NYPD because they called 911 instead of the Crime Stoppers hotline. Navid, Kingson, and Christos spotted Sebastian Zapeta-Calil on a Queens-bound F train and alerted authorities, leading to his arrest for the gruesome murder of Debbie Kawam, a homeless woman set on fire.

Despite their quick thinking, reward administrators claim the teens are ineligible due to a technicality requiring tips to go through Crime Stoppers. The decision has sparked outrage, with Navid’s father calling it “B.S.” and Council Member Susan Zhuang demanding the NYPD honor its promise, saying, “These teens deserve the reward.”

The trio recognized Zapeta-Calil from an article Navid’s mom had shown them and called 911. Police stopped the train and apprehended the suspect. However, the NYC Police Foundation insists the Crime Stoppers hotline is the only path to eligibility for rewards, though exceptions have been made in the past.

The boys’ families are determined to fight for the reward, emphasizing their bravery and civic duty. The teens had planned to use the money for college tuition and small luxuries, like basketball shoes and NBA tickets. While they remain proud of their actions, critics say denying the reward discourages others from stepping forward in similar situations. Curtis Sliwa of the Guardian Angels called the decision “bureaucratic nonsense” and urged the city to recognize the teens’ heroism.