Deadly Times Square stabbing started as part of a social media trend, police sources say
A 17-year-old has been arrested in the deadly stabbing of a man in Times Square earlier this week, police said Thursday.
Social media acted as motivation, police sources say
The suspect, identified Friday as Jayden Sanchez, told police the killing of 39-year-old Leonidas Baez on Monday night started as part of a social media trend, police sources told CBS News New York.
The suspect added he and his two accomplices picked the victim at random as part of an online trend that encourages "messing with crackheads," according to police sources.
Police were still searching for the other two suspects. It was not immediately clear if video of the incident was captured for social media purposes.
Investigation leads to arrest
Just before 11:30 p.m., Baez was stabbed in the face, chest and back outside the Burger & Lobster restaurant on 43rd Street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue. Baez, whose last known address was a shelter in New York City, was asleep prior to the confrontation, police said.
Police immediately started a search for three men who ran from the scene, heading east. They didn't offer much in the way of a description of the suspects, saying just that one was wearing all black.
On Thursday morning, however, the NYPD said it had arrested a 17-year-old male. Sanchez's name was not immediately released, however, due to his age. He's facing murder and criminal possession of a weapon charges.
Officers stopped the suspect after he allegedly jumped a turnstile at the Stillwell Avenue subway station, police sources said. Officers found a scalpel on him, and they quickly determined he was wanted for questioning in the Times Square incident.
Sanchez was also involved in a robbery at a newsstand the night before the stabbing, according to police. Officers said he and three others stole $300 from a stand on the corner of Seventh Ave. and 54th St.
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.
