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| Tessa Majors Murder: Third Teenager Is Arrested | Tessa Majors Murder: Third Teenager Is Arrested |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| Three middle school classmates, one of them armed with a knife, entered Morningside Park in northern Manhattan on the night of Dec. 11 looking for someone to rob. | Three middle school classmates, one of them armed with a knife, entered Morningside Park in northern Manhattan on the night of Dec. 11 looking for someone to rob. |
| At about the same time, prosecutors said, Tessa Majors, an 18-year-old in her first year at Barnard College, walked into the park through a different entrance. | At about the same time, prosecutors said, Tessa Majors, an 18-year-old in her first year at Barnard College, walked into the park through a different entrance. |
| The classmates, all teenage males, according to prosecutors, first set their sights on an unidentified man, then a woman, and finally, for reasons that remain unclear, Ms. Majors. They demanded her cellphone. When she resisted, biting one of them on the hand, one of teenagers placed her in a headlock and another stabbed her multiple times, the authorities said. | The classmates, all teenage males, according to prosecutors, first set their sights on an unidentified man, then a woman, and finally, for reasons that remain unclear, Ms. Majors. They demanded her cellphone. When she resisted, biting one of them on the hand, one of teenagers placed her in a headlock and another stabbed her multiple times, the authorities said. |
| She was found dying just outside the park. | She was found dying just outside the park. |
| On Wednesday, two months after the high-profile murder rattled a city now accustomed to historically low violent crime rates, prosecutors announced a third arrest in the case. | On Wednesday, two months after the high-profile murder rattled a city now accustomed to historically low violent crime rates, prosecutors announced a third arrest in the case. |
| Luchiano Lewis, 14, was charged in Criminal Court in Manhattan with second-degree murder and robbery. | Luchiano Lewis, 14, was charged in Criminal Court in Manhattan with second-degree murder and robbery. |
| Mr. Lewis’s 14-year-old friend, Rashaun Weaver, was arrested on the same charges over the weekend. | Mr. Lewis’s 14-year-old friend, Rashaun Weaver, was arrested on the same charges over the weekend. |
| Both are being tried as adults. Prosecutors explained that under New York State law they have the discretion to try defendants as young as 14 as adults in certain cases of violent crime. | Both are being tried as adults. Prosecutors explained that under New York State law they have the discretion to try defendants as young as 14 as adults in certain cases of violent crime. |
| Mr. Weaver is accused of stabbing Ms. Majors, while investigators say Mr. Lewis restrained her to prevent her from fleeing. | Mr. Weaver is accused of stabbing Ms. Majors, while investigators say Mr. Lewis restrained her to prevent her from fleeing. |
| A 13-year-old who was arrested in December implicated the two other teenagers in the fatal robbery. The 13-year-old was charged with second-degree felony murder as a juvenile. | A 13-year-old who was arrested in December implicated the two other teenagers in the fatal robbery. The 13-year-old was charged with second-degree felony murder as a juvenile. |
| On Wednesday, Mr. Weaver, wearing a blue button-up shirt and khakis, and Mr. Lewis, who wore a camouflage jacket and gray jeans, stood next to each other as they listened to the murder and robbery charges being read in court. | On Wednesday, Mr. Weaver, wearing a blue button-up shirt and khakis, and Mr. Lewis, who wore a camouflage jacket and gray jeans, stood next to each other as they listened to the murder and robbery charges being read in court. |
| Both whispered to the judge that they were 14-year-olds and uttered the words “not guilty” when asked to enter a plea. | 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 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. |
| The killing of Ms. Majors, who had come from Virginia to study at Barnard, recalled a more violent era in the city when park muggings and murders were far more common. | The killing of Ms. Majors, who had come from Virginia to study at Barnard, recalled a more violent era in the city when park muggings and murders were far more common. |
| Her killing also echoed the notorious 1989 April attack on a jogger in Central Park. Investigators and prosecutors relied then on tough interrogation techniques to obtain confessions from five teenagers accused of the brutal assault and rape of the jogger. | Her killing also echoed the notorious 1989 April attack on a jogger in Central Park. Investigators and prosecutors relied then on tough interrogation techniques to obtain confessions from five teenagers accused of the brutal assault and rape of the jogger. |
| The confessions were later proven to be false. | The confessions were later proven to be false. |
| In the long shadow of that case, the authorities said they made sure to take extra steps to ensure that a guardian or a lawyer was present each time one of the teenagers accused of taking part in Ms. Majors’s killing was questioned by investigators. | In the long shadow of that case, the authorities said they made sure to take extra steps to ensure that a guardian or a lawyer was present each time one of the teenagers accused of taking part in Ms. Majors’s killing was questioned by investigators. |
| But lawyers with the Legal Aid Society, which represents the 13-year-old defendant, have argued in court hearings that their client was subjected to aggressive interrogation tactics, including browbeating and screaming. That defendant is not accused of killing Ms. Majors but is accused of being involved in the robbery that led to her death. | But lawyers with the Legal Aid Society, which represents the 13-year-old defendant, have argued in court hearings that their client was subjected to aggressive interrogation tactics, including browbeating and screaming. That defendant is not accused of killing Ms. Majors but is accused of being involved in the robbery that led to her death. |
| The New York Times is not naming the 13-year-old because he is not being charged as an adult. He is expected to face trial for his role in the murder in family court in March. | The New York Times is not naming the 13-year-old because he is not being charged as an adult. He is expected to face trial for his role in the murder in family court in March. |
| Over two months, investigators accumulated a trove of evidence, including witness statements, DNA samples and video footage, to build a case against the teenagers, the authorities said. | Over two months, investigators accumulated a trove of evidence, including witness statements, DNA samples and video footage, to build a case against the teenagers, the authorities said. |
| “Our journey to reach that milestone today was not a sprint, but rather it was a painstaking, deliberate and meticulous search for the truth,” the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., said during the weekend while announcing Mr. Weaver’s arrest. | “Our journey to reach that milestone today was not a sprint, but rather it was a painstaking, deliberate and meticulous search for the truth,” the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., said during the weekend while announcing Mr. Weaver’s arrest. |
| Neighborhood Defender Service, a legal group representing Mr. Weaver, said in a statement that their client’s age should keep him from being tried as an adult. | |
| “Our client is a 14-year-old child with no criminal record or family court history,” the group said. “In our shared history, we have seen too often the impact of hasty condemnations of children. Let us take these past experiences as a warning and allow due process to play out in our young client’s case, so that justice can prevail.” | “Our client is a 14-year-old child with no criminal record or family court history,” the group said. “In our shared history, we have seen too often the impact of hasty condemnations of children. Let us take these past experiences as a warning and allow due process to play out in our young client’s case, so that justice can prevail.” |
| Relatives for Mr. Weaver and Mr. Lewis — as well as Ms. Majors’s father, Inman Majors — declined to speak to reporters as they left the courthouse on Wednesday. | Relatives for Mr. Weaver and Mr. Lewis — as well as Ms. Majors’s father, Inman Majors — declined to speak to reporters as they left the courthouse on Wednesday. |
| 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.” |
| Investigators said they did not anticipate charging anyone else in Ms. Majors’s killing. | Investigators said they did not anticipate charging anyone else in Ms. Majors’s killing. |
| On Wednesday, Matthew Bogdanos, an assistant district attorney, told Justice Gayle Roberts that the teenagers had initially set their eyes on two other people before they encountered Ms. Majors at around 6:50 p.m. while walking up a set of stairs. | On Wednesday, Matthew Bogdanos, an assistant district attorney, told Justice Gayle Roberts that the teenagers had initially set their eyes on two other people before they encountered Ms. Majors at around 6:50 p.m. while walking up a set of stairs. |
| “She became intended victim number three,” he added. “They literally crossed paths.” | “She became intended victim number three,” he added. “They literally crossed paths.” |
| Mr. Weaver was also recorded by investigators implicating himself in the murder, saying he had attacked her because “she was hanging on to her phone,” according to court records. Ms. Majors was heard yelling “Help me! I’m being robbed!” Moments later she was stabbed four times, the blade piercing her heart once, court records show. | Mr. Weaver was also recorded by investigators implicating himself in the murder, saying he had attacked her because “she was hanging on to her phone,” according to court records. Ms. Majors was heard yelling “Help me! I’m being robbed!” Moments later she was stabbed four times, the blade piercing her heart once, court records show. |
| Detectives found her headphones on the ground and her hair tie 10 feet away. She was taken to a hospital but could not be saved. | Detectives found her headphones on the ground and her hair tie 10 feet away. She was taken to a hospital but could not be saved. |
| Investigators said on Wednesday that they knew the teenagers’ whereabouts all along and tracked their movements as they built a case. | Investigators said on Wednesday that they knew the teenagers’ whereabouts all along and tracked their movements as they built a case. |
| More than a week after the 13-year-old’s arrest, investigators took the unusual step of releasing images of one of the 14-year-old boys, seeking the public’s 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 13-year-old’s arrest, investigators took the unusual step of releasing images of one of the 14-year-old boys, seeking the public’s 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 without being charged. | Several hours after being questioned by detectives, Mr. Weaver walked out of a police station without being charged. |
| Days before Ms. Majors’s murder, investigators said Mr. Weaver had committed another mugging at knife point in Morningside Park wearing a distinct outfit: a navy jacket with a horizontal white stripe and a red stripe across the chest, according to court records. | Days before Ms. Majors’s murder, investigators said Mr. Weaver had committed another mugging at knife point in Morningside Park wearing a distinct outfit: a navy jacket with a horizontal white stripe and a red stripe across the chest, according to court records. |
| Prosecutors said he was seen wearing the same outfit on the night Ms. Majors was killed. | Prosecutors said he was seen wearing the same outfit on the night Ms. Majors was killed. |
| Mr. Bogdanos said they would prove in court that the teenagers acted with ruthless determination when they attacked Ms. Majors for about five minutes as she pleaded for help. | Mr. Bogdanos said they would prove in court that the teenagers acted with ruthless determination when they attacked Ms. Majors for about five minutes as she pleaded for help. |
| “This wasn’t 10 seconds. This was more than a minute,” he said. “That’s extraordinary for a robbery and murder to take that long. This was a sustained attack, sustained in both space and time that ultimately resulted in Ms. Majors’s death.” | “This wasn’t 10 seconds. This was more than a minute,” he said. “That’s extraordinary for a robbery and murder to take that long. This was a sustained attack, sustained in both space and time that ultimately resulted in Ms. Majors’s death.” |
| Ali Watkins contributed reporting. | Ali Watkins contributed reporting. |