Caleb Rijos, 14, stabbed to death in Bronx, NYPD says. Man charged with murder
NEW YORK -- Caleb Rijos, a boy from the Bronx, died after he was stabbed in the chest multiple times, according to New York City police.
The 14-year-old was found unresponsive Friday morning outside a building on 138th Street in the Mott Haven section. He was pronounced dead in the ambulance taking him to the hospital, police said.
The attack on Rijos appeared to be random and unprovoked, according to investigators.
"Video shows that the victim is standing alone on the sidewalk, by himself, when he is approached by this perpetrator who immediately stabs him two times in the chest and flees the scene," NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a news conference overnight Friday.
A person of interest was in custody, police announced at the press conference. On Saturday, police said they charged him with murder.
Shocked neighbors react to teen's killing
Rijos lived on Alexander Avenue, around the corner from where he was killed, police said. Detectives were inside a building there speaking with grieving family members.
Neighbors outside were stunned by the boy's death.
"I'm in shock right now. I'm very shocked right now. You moved my heart," said Awilda Miranda. "It's a child, like my grandkids."
Suspect linked to another stabbing, NYPD says
NYPD officials believe the man who stabbed Rijos committed another unprovoked stabbing last weekend.
In that incident, a 38-year-old man was walking into a subway station at the corner of East 138th Street and Third Avenue when someone approached him from behind and stabbed him in the arm, according to police.
That man was taken to the hospital, where he received seven stitches.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
