Suspect charged in stabbing death of 14-year-old
Police say they have charged 29-year-old Waldo Mejia for the apparently random fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old boy in the Bronx on Friday.
NEW YORK – Police say they have arrested and charged a man in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old boy in the Bronx on Friday.
The suspect, 29-year-old Waldo Mejia, has been charged with second degree murder, first degree manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
What we know:
According to police, 14-year-old Caleb Rios was standing on a corner outside the Mitchell Houses in Mott Haven on Friday morning when the attacker approached him and, unprovoked, stabbed him.
The teen was found unconscious and taken to Lincoln Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Subway stairs stabbing
During their investigation, police found video of the attack and released images of the stabber. An officer believed he recognized the suspect from another incident earlier in the week:
On Sunday, a 38-year-old man was randomly stabbed from behind on the subway stairs of the Third Avenue–138th Street station, according to police. The victim was stabbed in the arm and is expected to be OK.
Mejia has an extensive criminal record dating back to 2015, having been arrested four times for burglary, arson, possession of a gun and in 2024, when he was arrested for stabbing another victim’s Ring camera with a kitchen knife. He was released on his own recognizance the next day.
“The status quo is just not working for New Yorkers,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “We do not have a system that puts the right and needs of victims first.”
Crime in NYC
Dig deeper:
According to NYPD statistics, overall crime was down in New York City in 2024 by around 3% compared to 2023, year to date. Murders were down 3.8%, with 375 this past year as opposed to 390 in 2023.
NYC subway crime is down, officials say
New York City officials say subway crime is down, despite several recent high-profile violent incidents. FOX 5 NY’s Briella Tomassetti has the details.
Murders were down 3.8%, with 375 this past year as opposed to 390 in 2023, but the city saw a 4.9% increase in felony assaults.
“While there were thousands fewer victims of major crimes—including shootings, murders, robberies, and other violent acts—in 2024, there is still much more work to be done to keep New Yorkers safe, to make them feel safe, and to improve their overall quality of life in the year ahead,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
What you can do:
Anyone with information regarding the stabbing attacks is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.
The Source: This article uses information from a Friday night NYPD press conference and crime statistics from the NYPD.
