Three Brooklyn teens who helped catch a subway arsonist were denied a $10,000 reward promised by the NYPD because they called 911 instead of Crime Stoppers. Navid, Gimson and Christos spotted Sebastian Zapeta-Kalil on the F train bound for Queens and alerted authorities, leading to his being charged with the gruesome murder of Debbie Carr. Wam (a homeless woman who was set on fire) was arrested. Despite their quick thinking, reward administrators claimed the teens were ineligible because tips were technically required to get past Crime Stoppers. The decision sparked outrage, with Navid's father calling it “BS” and City Councilwoman Susan Zhuang demanding that the NYPD live up to its promise, saying, “These teenagers should be rewarded.” Zapeta-Khalil was recognized from an article Navid's mother showed them. and called 911. Police stopped the train and arrested the suspect. However, the New York City Police Foundation maintains that Crime Stoppers is the only way to qualify for the award, although there have been exceptions 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 to pay for college tuition and small luxuries like basketball shoes and NBA tickets. While they remain proud of their actions, critics say that withholding rewards will deter others from coming forward in similar situations. Curtis Sliwa of the Guardian Angels called the decision “bureaucratic mumbo jumbo” and urged the city to recognize the teens' heroism. Like this: Like Loading… Discover more from Baller AlertSubscribe to get the latest posts delivered to your email.
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