Police arrested a man on Saturday morning and accused him of stabbing and killing a 14-year-old boy on his way to school in an attack on Friday, said Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
A man, Waldo Mejia, 29, was arrested near the scene of the stabbing in Mott Haven, Bronx, and charged with murder, aggravated murder and possession of weapons, police said. Mr. Mejia was found in possession of a bloody knife when he was arrested, authorities said.
The robbery happened at 9:25 a.m. Friday in front of 300 East 138th Street shortly after the 14-year-old boy, Caleb Rijos, left his home to attend Bronx Leadership Academy High School, police said. His building, at 175 Alexander Avenue, is part of a housing complex managed by the New York City Housing Authority.
Police say the video of this episode shows Caleb being touched by a man who stabbed him twice in the chest, piercing his heart and lungs in what appeared to be an attack. Passersby alerted the emergency services, who rushed Caleb to Lincoln Hospital within six minutes of the stabbing, police said. He is said to have died at the hospital.
In a press conference on Saturday afternoon at the police headquarters in Manhattan, Joseph Kenny, chief of detectives, said that the authorities were able to identify Mr. in the Bronx on Sunday.
The police are waiting for Mr. Mejia near his home at 270 Alexander Avenue in Mott Haven and took him into custody after he returned around midnight on Saturday.
“This was a young man who was on the right path in life and was taken away from his parents,” said Mr. Kenny.
At the press conference, Commissioner Tisch called Mr. Mejia is a “career criminal” with a “documented history of mental health interactions with the NYPD” He has already been arrested four times, he said, including in 2019, after he set fire to a house. fire, and in November, after stabbing a ring camera with a kitchen knife.
Ms. Tisch described the killings as the sad result of a criminal justice system that has failed to put victims first and to deal effectively with regression and mental illness.
“Today a 14-year-old boy died, the family is saddened, the city is mourning and the plans we have to deal with repeated crimes and people with serious mental health problems continue to fail us,” said the Commissioner. he said, later adding, “My message to the people of New York is you've got to give.”
Dealing with the crimes committed by mentally ill New Yorkers has become a hot topic after a series of recent high-profile episodes on the subway. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced last week that she would include legislation in her executive budget to allow hospitals to house more mentally ill people who put themselves or others at risk. “We will not be able to deal with this problem fully without changes in the country's law,” said Ms. Hochul in her statement.
Jacob Rijos, Caleb's father, described him as a 'wonderful boy' who was caring and loving.
“It's hard right now,” he said Friday. “We are sad. We are trying to discuss the next steps. We don't really know what happened.”
On Friday evening, a bloodstain was visible on the sidewalk just outside the entrance to the Third Avenue-138th Street subway station. One Ugg shoe appeared on the pavement near the evidence marker.
Caleb is at least the third young person in New York City to be killed in the first 10 days of 2025.
On January 3, two 17-year-olds were shot in the Bronx, according to a police statement. One was shot in the stomach and taken to the hospital in stable condition; another, Andrew Mora, was shot in the chest and died.
Less than an hour after the shooting, police responding to a call in East Harlem found two people with stab wounds and a third with a wound to the forehead. One of those stabbed, a 17-year-old boy, was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The killings came days after at least 10 people, including a teenager, were shot outside a concert hall in Queens on New Year's Day. All those who died were expected to recover.
Parents and children walking around the scene of the latest crime in Mott Haven on Friday were shocked and expressed concern about youth violence in the city.
“Watch your kids — that's what I do, all this time in New York,” said Anthony Smalls, 36, who has 17- and 18-year-old children who live in the neighborhood. “It hurts, it hurts, it hurts a lot. It can happen very quickly.”
Wesley Parnell again Nate Schweber reporting contributed.
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