A 13-year-old boy confessed in the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Barnard College student Tessa Rane Majors, who was killed as she walked through Morningside Heights on Wednesday.
CBS reports that police found the boy while canvassing the area near the crime scene, and the boy told investigators that Majors was stabbed when he and two other boys robbed her. Police on Friday had yet to make any other arrests.
It was reported that the boy was caught in the lobby of a building on Manhattan Avenue and 119th street at around 4:20 p.m. Thursday. The 13-year-old was wearing clothes that matched the description of the suspect.
The boy was arrested for criminal trespass, and during the search, he was found carrying a knife. It was reported that after he was brought into the precinct for weapon charges and trespassing, he confessed to the murder.
The boy faces murder, robbery and weapon charges, according to CBS.
Another teen is allegedly being questioned by police, and outlets report that they are searching for a third suspect.
Majors, a college freshman, was stabbed multiple times shortly before 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The attack occurred on a set of stairs at Morningside Park.
She collapsed at a college security booth after she was stabbed, and the guard called 911 immediately.
“The public safety officer assigned to 116th Street and Morningside Drive was at his post last night when the victim emerged from the park, and he came to her aid immediately upon recognizing that she was injured,” a statement from Columbia University said Thursday.
The statement added, “Reports to the contrary are inaccurate. Officers stationed at this location do not make rounds that cause them to leave their post.”
The victim was taken to St. Luke’s hospital and pronounced dead, according to ABC.
CBS reports that this is not the first time the area has seen violence. It has been reported that since October 2018, there have been around two dozen incidents.
Earlier this year, a group of teens between 12 and 15 years old attacked three women on different occasions.
Anyone with information on this crime is urged to contact NYPD by calling 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. You can tweet @NYPDTips, text 274637 or fill out an online form at crimestoppers.com.
