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

Three Brooklyn youngsters who helped catch a subway arsonist are being denied the $10,000 reward promised by the NYPD as a result of they known as 911 as a substitute of the Crime Stoppers hotline. Navid, Kingson, and Christos noticed Sebastian Zapeta-Calil on a Queens-bound F prepare and alerted authorities, resulting in his arrest for the ugly homicide of Debbie Kawam, a homeless girl set on fireplace.

Regardless of their fast pondering, reward directors declare the kids are ineligible as a result of a technicality requiring tricks to undergo Crime Stoppers. The choice 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 acknowledged Zapeta-Calil from an article Navid’s mother had proven them and known as 911. Police stopped the prepare and apprehended the suspect. Nevertheless, the NYC Police Basis insists the Crime Stoppers hotline is the one path to eligibility for rewards, although exceptions have been made previously.

The boys’ households are decided to battle for the reward, emphasizing their bravery and civic responsibility. The kids had deliberate to make use of the cash for faculty tuition and small luxuries, like basketball sneakers and NBA tickets. Whereas they continue to be pleased with their actions, critics say denying the reward discourages others from stepping ahead in related conditions. Curtis Sliwa of the Guardian Angels known as the choice “bureaucratic nonsense” and urged town to acknowledge the kids’ heroism.