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Tessa Majors Murder: Third Teenager Is Arrested Tessa Majors Murder: Third Teenager Is Arrested
(about 1 hour later)
A third teenager was arrested and charged on Wednesday in the murder of Tessa Majors, an 18-year-old Barnard College student who was stabbed during a mugging last December in Morningside Park in northern Manhattan.A third teenager was arrested and charged on Wednesday in the murder of Tessa Majors, an 18-year-old Barnard College student who was stabbed during a mugging last December in Morningside Park in northern Manhattan.
The boy, Luchiano Lewis, 14, was charged with second-degree murder and robbery.The boy, Luchiano Lewis, 14, was charged with second-degree murder and robbery.
Mr. Lewis appeared in Criminal Court in Manhattan on Wednesday alongside Rashaun Weaver, who is also 14 and who the police believe actually stabbed Ms. Majors when she refused to give up her cellphone. Both have been charged as adults.Mr. Lewis appeared in Criminal Court in Manhattan on Wednesday alongside Rashaun Weaver, who is also 14 and who the police believe actually stabbed Ms. Majors when she refused to give up her cellphone. Both have been charged as adults.
Mr. Weaver, wearing a blue button-up shirt and khakis, and Mr. Lewis, his middle school classmate who wore a camouflage jackets and gray jeans, stood next to each other as they listened to the charges. Both whispered to the judge that they were 14-year-olds and uttered the words “not guilty” when asked to enter a plea.Mr. Weaver, wearing a blue button-up shirt and khakis, and Mr. Lewis, his middle school classmate who wore a camouflage jackets and gray jeans, stood next to each other as they listened to the charges. Both whispered to the judge that they were 14-year-olds and uttered the words “not guilty” when asked to enter a plea.
Mr. Lewis kept Ms. Majors from fleeing from her attacks by putting her in “some sort of headlock or bearhug,” said Matthew Bogdanos, a prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney’s office.Mr. Lewis kept Ms. Majors from fleeing from her attacks by putting her in “some sort of headlock or bearhug,” said Matthew Bogdanos, a prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
Prosecutors said they had accumulated a trove of evidence, including witness statements and video footage, to build a case against the two teenagers.Prosecutors said they had accumulated a trove of evidence, including witness statements and video footage, to build a case against the two teenagers.
Mr. Weaver and Mr. Lewis were ordered held without bail at a juvenile detention facility.Mr. Weaver and Mr. Lewis were ordered held without bail at a juvenile detention facility.
Under New York State law, juveniles charged with intentional murder, as Mr. Weaver and Mr. Lewis have been, can be tried as adults.Under New York State law, juveniles charged with intentional murder, as Mr. Weaver and Mr. Lewis have been, can be tried as adults.
Relatives for the two teenagers as well as Ms. Majors’s father, Inman Majors, declined to speak to reporters leaving the courthouse.Relatives for the two teenagers as well as Ms. Majors’s father, Inman Majors, declined to speak to reporters leaving the courthouse.
Alexis Padilla, a lawyer representing Mr. Lewis, told the judge he believed the prosecution’s case was not as strong as it was being made to seem.Alexis Padilla, a lawyer representing Mr. Lewis, told the judge he believed the prosecution’s case was not as strong as it was being made to seem.
“If the video is so clear, why wasn’t he arrested much sooner,” Ms. Padilla said, alluding to evidence cited by the prosecution. “This is my client’s first brush with the law.”“If the video is so clear, why wasn’t he arrested much sooner,” Ms. Padilla said, alluding to evidence cited by the prosecution. “This is my client’s first brush with the law.”
A lawyer representing Mr. Weaver did not speak during the hearing.A lawyer representing Mr. Weaver did not speak during the hearing.
Last month, a third boy, who is 13, was arrested and charged as a juvenile with second-degree murder in family court. That boy is not accused of causing Ms. Majors’ death but is accused of being involved in the robbery that led to her killing. In December, a third boy, who is 13, was arrested and charged as a juvenile with second-degree murder in family court. That boy is not accused of causing Ms. Majors’ death but is accused of being involved in the robbery that led to her killing.
The 13-year-old boy was detained a day after the murder, which rattled the city and the nearby Barnard College campus.The 13-year-old boy was detained a day after the murder, which rattled the city and the nearby Barnard College campus.
Officials said he soon implicated himself in statements to detectives. He also identified Mr. Weaver and another 14-year-old middle school classmate as participants in the attack. The New York Times is not naming the 13-year-old because he is not being charged as an adult.Officials said he soon implicated himself in statements to detectives. He also identified Mr. Weaver and another 14-year-old middle school classmate as participants in the attack. The New York Times is not naming the 13-year-old because he is not being charged as an adult.
Investigators said they were not anticipating to charge anyone else in Ms. Majors’s killing.Investigators said they were not anticipating to charge anyone else in Ms. Majors’s killing.
Mr. Weaver was recorded by investigators implicating himself in the murder saying he attacked her because “she was hanging on to her phone.”Mr. Weaver was recorded by investigators implicating himself in the murder saying he attacked her because “she was hanging on to her phone.”
The teenager made the admission shortly after Ms. Majors’s killing.The teenager made the admission shortly after Ms. Majors’s killing.
Mr. Weaver and two middle-school classmates had initially targeted a man, and later a woman, the police said, walking through Morningside Park, near Columbia University, which is affiliated with Barnard. Soon, the boys turned their attention to Ms. Majors who was walking up stairs in the park, prosecutors said.Mr. Weaver and two middle-school classmates had initially targeted a man, and later a woman, the police said, walking through Morningside Park, near Columbia University, which is affiliated with Barnard. Soon, the boys turned their attention to Ms. Majors who was walking up stairs in the park, prosecutors said.
Ms. Majors was heard yelling “Help me! I’m being robbed!” Moments later she was found face down. She had been stabbed four times.Ms. Majors was heard yelling “Help me! I’m being robbed!” Moments later she was found face down. She had been stabbed four times.
She was taken to a hospital but could not be saved. One of the stab wounds had pierced her heart.She was taken to a hospital but could not be saved. One of the stab wounds had pierced her heart.
Those details were revealed Wednesday during a hearing in State Supreme Court in Manhattan. Mr. Weaver pleaded not guilty to charges of murder in the second degree and robbery. He is being tried as an adult and is being held without bail.Those details were revealed Wednesday during a hearing in State Supreme Court in Manhattan. Mr. Weaver pleaded not guilty to charges of murder in the second degree and robbery. He is being tried as an adult and is being held without bail.
It took investigators more than two months to arrest all three teenagers linked to the first high-profile murder the Police Department handled under the new police commissioner, Dermot F. Shea.It took investigators more than two months to arrest all three teenagers linked to the first high-profile murder the Police Department handled under the new police commissioner, Dermot F. Shea.
More than a week after the initial arrest, investigators took the unusual step of releasing images of one of the 14-year-old boys, asking the public’s for help in identifying him. In late December, detectives tracked that boy, later identified as Mr. Weaver, at a family member’s home in the Bronx.More than a week after the initial arrest, investigators took the unusual step of releasing images of one of the 14-year-old boys, asking the public’s for help in identifying him. In late December, detectives tracked that boy, later identified as Mr. Weaver, at a family member’s home in the Bronx.
The authorities believe that the teenager’s family was shielding him until a wound on his hand had healed, an official briefed on the case said. The official described the mark as consistent with a bite.The authorities believe that the teenager’s family was shielding him until a wound on his hand had healed, an official briefed on the case said. The official described the mark as consistent with a bite.
Several hours after being questioned by detectives, Mr. Weaver walked out of a police station house without being charged.Several hours after being questioned by detectives, Mr. Weaver walked out of a police station house without being charged.
On Wednesday, Mr. Bogdanos told Justice Gayle Roberts that Ms. Majors, who was a first-year student at Barnard, entered Morningside Park at 6:43 p.m. the night of Dec. 11. Mr. Weaver, Mr. Lewis and the 13-year-old had also entered the park from a different entrance.On Wednesday, Mr. Bogdanos told Justice Gayle Roberts that Ms. Majors, who was a first-year student at Barnard, entered Morningside Park at 6:43 p.m. the night of Dec. 11. Mr. Weaver, Mr. Lewis and the 13-year-old had also entered the park from a different entrance.
“So they entered at almost the same time,” he said. “It turns out to be a tragic coincidence.”“So they entered at almost the same time,” he said. “It turns out to be a tragic coincidence.”
The teenagers, Mr. Bogdanos, had initially set their eyes on two others before they encountered Ms. Majors.The teenagers, Mr. Bogdanos, had initially set their eyes on two others before they encountered Ms. Majors.
“She became intended victim number three,” he added. “They literally crossed paths.”“She became intended victim number three,” he added. “They literally crossed paths.”