Rashaun Weaver, a 14-year-old boy, has been charged by the NYPD with the murder of Barnard College Tessa Majors. The shocking stabbing death occurred on December 11 in a Manhattan park in New York City.
The 18-year-old student was killed as the result of a botched robbery. The suspect, who will be tried as an adult, is facing two counts of murder and four robbery charges.
According to cops, three teenagers were involved in the shocking incident, but they believe Weaver is the one who was holding the knife.
Zyairr Davis, a second boy, is still in custody, and authorities see him as a kind of witness who was part of the robbery. He will fave the justice system in a family court. Weaver was on the run for a few days before he was brought in for questioning.
NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea stated at a press conference on Saturday: “What we can do is say that we are confident that we have the person in custody who stabbed her, and that person will face justice in a court of law. Sadly, [this] cannot bring back this young woman. That is something even the best, most impartial investigation simply cannot do.”
He continued with: “Video evidence, blood evidence, smartphone evidence, iCloud evidence, witness identification, and the defendant’s owned statements that were rigorously collected and examined.”
Authorities also say that Weaver allegedly participated in a Morningside Park mugging four days before Majors’s murder. The student had moved to New York four months before her death.
Reactions to Weaver being charged as an adult have been somewhat mixed with some arguing that it is not real justice when children get treated like adults. But, some say if Weaver was capable of allegedly stabbing someone to death, he deserves to be tried as an adult.
One person stated: “Exactly old enough to stab someone, old enough to get tried as an adult. Like that girl will never come back. Rip.”
A second observer explained: “Charged as an adult is the right thing he didn’t push or punch this girl he stabbed her .. he didn’t even need the weapon to assault her.”
A third commenter chimed in: “Justice for Tessa majors ?. I understand that some people think that this young man shouldn’t be tried as an adult, have to look at the circumstances he kill this young lady because she refused to give her property. Intentionally. He deserved to pay his crime senseless and heartbreaking ?.”
Weaver’s arraignment is set for Wednesday.
