The NYPD on Thursday arrested a 14-year-old suspect believed to have stabbed Barnard freshman Tessa Majors in a park near the college’s Manhattan campus.The 14-year-old was identified by a 13-year-old involved in the robbery as the one who committed the fatal stabbing, according to The
New York Times. The 13-year-old boy remains in custody and faces a murder charge for his role in the attack.Police questioned and released a different 14-year-old boy last week. The
police then released a photo of the teenager on social media and asked the public for help in finding him, saying he was wanted in connection with the stabbing in Morningside Park. The NYPD does not usually release photos of minors.> Update: We have located this individual. Thank you to everyone who reached out with information.> > This is an active and ongoing investigation.> > If you have any information about this incident or any other crime in NYC call @NYPDTips at 800-577-TIPS https://t.co/rt2AQqjZqe> > -- Chief Rodney Harrison (@NYPDDetectives) December 26, 2019Majors was stabbed around 7 p.m. near West 116th Street, at the foot of a staircase leading up to Morningside Heights. She then staggered up those stairs to the street, where she was found by a campus security guard.The 13-year-old told detectives that he and two middle school classmates went to the park on the evening of December 11 determined to rob people, the police said. When the boys approached Majors and grabbed her from behind, she refused to hand over her belongings and fought back. That was when the 14-year-old stabbed Majors, according to the account the 13-year-old gave to detectives.Crime has nearly tripled in Morningside Park over the last year. As of December 8, there had been 20 robberies inside or on the perimeter of the park, compared to seven in the same period last year. Recently, the police said, several teenagers had been arrested in a pattern of robberies in the area.The police union and NYC mayor Bill de Blasio clashed on social media over the handling of the case, after president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, Ed Mullins, used the case to criticize the lack of marijuana enforcement.> Think of Tessa’s parents, her friends.
> This is heartless.
> It’s infuriating.> > We don’t shame victims in this city. https://t.co/c3HM9gIvSh> > -- Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) December 15, 2019> Heartless is you allowing lawlessness to run the city of NY. You’ve weaken the NYPD. This young lady should still be alive. Tell the TRUTH Bill. Tell New Yorkers what really happens in the streets of NYC. This girl was an innocent victim. YOU have created chaos! Tell the truth! https://t.co/mguhDdUVtL pic.twitter.com/oji4vmGxkm> > -- SBA (@SBANYPD) December 15, 2019“NYC is becoming a cesspool thanks to the Mayor. Shame on DeBlasio,” the police union later tweeted.