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The '''killing of Tessa Majors''' occurred near ] in ], ], New York, on December 11, 2019. Majors, an eighteen-year-old student at ], was reportedly attacked by three teenagers who intended to rob her. She was then ] multiple times, resulting in her death. One of the suspects, a thirteen-year-old, was arrested the following day and charged with ]. Two months later, two fourteen-year-old suspects were also charged with her murder.<ref name="NY Times Tessa Majors Killing: 14-Year-Old Boy Charged With Murder">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/15/nyregion/tessa-majors-barnard-arrest.html|title=Tessa Majors Killing: 14-Year-Old Boy Charged With Murder|first=Edgar|last=Sandoval|date=February 15, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abc7ny.com/5946516/| title=Tessa Majors murder: Third teenage suspect charged in New York City| website=ABC7| first=Derick | last=Waller| date=19 February 2020| access-date=19 February 2020}}</ref> On June 3, 2020, the 13-year-old (since turned 14) pleaded guilty in ] to robbery in the first degree. Trial dates, in adult court, have not yet been set for the suspects who were 14 years old at the time of the incident.<ref name="Carlisle"/> The '''killing of Tessa Majors''' occurred near ] in ], ], New York, on December 11, 2019. Majors, an eighteen-year-old student at ], was reportedly attacked by three teenagers as part of a ]. Majors was then attacked with a knife multiple times, resulting in death by ]. One of the suspects, a thirteen-year-old, was arrested the following day and charged with ]. Two months later, two fourteen-year-old suspects were also charged with murder.<ref name="NY Times Tessa Majors Killing: 14-Year-Old Boy Charged With Murder">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/15/nyregion/tessa-majors-barnard-arrest.html|title=Tessa Majors Killing: 14-Year-Old Boy Charged With Murder|first=Edgar|last=Sandoval|date=February 15, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abc7ny.com/5946516/| title=Tessa Majors murder: Third teenage suspect charged in New York City| website=ABC7| first=Derick | last=Waller| date=19 February 2020| access-date=19 February 2020}}</ref> On June 3, 2020, the 13-year-old (since turned 14) pleaded guilty in ] to robbery in the first degree. Trial dates, in adult court, have not yet been set for the suspects who were 14 years old at the time of the incident.<ref name="Carlisle"/>


==Background== ==Background==
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==Attack== ==Attack==
] ]
On December 11, 2019, Majors was walking in ], several blocks from ] where she was a student. Shortly before 7:00 p.m., she was attacked by "between one to three people"<ref name="Carlisle"/> on a staircase<ref name="Southall"/> near ] and ].<ref name=":0" /> Police speculated that the attack was a "] gone wrong".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/teen-wanted-for-questioning-in-majors-death-didnt-run-away-but-search-continues-nypd/2243164/| title=Teen Wanted in Tessa Majors' Death Didn't Run Away but Search Continues|first=Marc| last=Santia| date=December 20, 2019| access-date=December 20, 2019| website=NBC New York}}</ref> On December 11, 2019, Majors was walking in ], several blocks from ]. Shortly before 7:00 p.m., was attacked by "between one to three people"<ref name="Carlisle"/> on a staircase<ref name="Southall"/> near ] and ].<ref name=":0" /> Police speculated that the attack was a "] gone wrong".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/teen-wanted-for-questioning-in-majors-death-didnt-run-away-but-search-continues-nypd/2243164/| title=Teen Wanted in Tessa Majors' Death Didn't Run Away but Search Continues|first=Marc| last=Santia| date=December 20, 2019| access-date=December 20, 2019| website=NBC New York}}</ref>


According to the thirteen-year-old suspect's confession, around dinnertime, the three suspects went to the park to rob people. They considered several potential victims but finally settled on attacking Majors.<ref name=NYMAG”>{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/03/tessa-majors-murder-morningside-park.html|title=The Stabbing in Morningside Park Every generation, a crime tells a new story about New York. The murder of Tessa Majors is ours.|first=Lisa|last=Miller|date=March 16, 2020|website=nymag.com}}</ref> The suspect told police that his two accomplices grabbed Majors, put her in a choke-hold, and stole from her pockets.<ref name="Carlisle"/> While one suspect held her the other tried to take her belongings, including her phone. Majors refused to give over her phone and struggled.<ref name=NYMAG”/> The suspect also told police that one of the robbers stabbed Majors with a knife.<ref name="Carlisle"/> According to a witness, a male yelled at Majors to “Gimme your phone.” Majors then screamed for help, yelling, “Help me! I’m being robbed!”<ref name="NY Times Tessa Majors Killing: 14-Year-Old Boy Charged With Murder"/> According to the thirteen-year-old suspect's confession, around dinnertime, the three suspects went to the park to rob people. They considered several potential victims but finally settled on attacking Majors.<ref name=NYMAG”>{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/03/tessa-majors-murder-morningside-park.html|title=The Stabbing in Morningside Park Every generation, a crime tells a new story about New York. The murder of Tessa Majors is ours.|first=Lisa|last=Miller|date=March 16, 2020|website=nymag.com}}</ref> The suspect told police that his two accomplices had grabbed Majors, and used a choke-hold as a restraint while searching for items to take.<ref name="Carlisle"/> Majors struggled and refused to hand over a mobile phone.<ref name=NYMAG”/> The suspect also told police that one of the robbers stabbed Majors with a knife.<ref name="Carlisle"/> According to a witness, a male yelled at Majors to “Gimme your phone.” Majors then screamed for help, yelling, “Help me! I’m being robbed!”<ref name="NY Times Tessa Majors Killing: 14-Year-Old Boy Charged With Murder"/>


According to the thirteen-year-old suspect, Majors bit one of the attacker's fingers hard, causing it to bleed.<ref name=NYMAG”/> The suspect admitted in his confession that the alleged attacker stabbed Majors after she bit him.<ref name=NYMAG”/> She was stabbed several times in the chest, with one stab wound piercing her heart.<ref name="NY Times Tessa Majors Killing: 14-Year-Old Boy Charged With Murder"/> The wounds also caused Majors to bleed “profusely into her lungs.” According to the thirteen-year-old suspect, Majors bit one of the attacker's fingers hard, causing it to bleed.<ref name=NYMAG”/> The suspect admitted in his confession that the alleged attacker stabbed Majors after being bit.<ref name=NYMAG”/> Majors was stabbed several times in the chest, with one stab wound piercing her heart.<ref name="NY Times Tessa Majors Killing: 14-Year-Old Boy Charged With Murder"/>


After the altercation, the attackers went through Majors' pockets and fled.<ref name=NYMAG”/> She then attempted to make her way up the steep stairs found at the park's entrance nearest to the university.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-stabbing-near-columbia-morningside-heights-20191212-ewofwz5e6jdshjl52dlbyqmyci-story.html| title=Barnard freshman stabbed to death in mugging in Morningside Park near Columbia, college mourns student 'just beginning her journey’ |newspaper=]| first1= Catherina| last1= Gioino| first2= Rocco| last2= Parascandola| first3= Kerry| last3= Burke| first4= John| last4= Annese| first5= Kathy| last5= Burke| date=December 11, 2019| access-date=December 22, 2019}}</ref> Majors staggered up the stairs and collapsed at the corner of Morningside Drive and 116th Street.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/13/nyregion/tessa-majors-barnard-stabbing-arrest.html| title=Tessa Majors Killing: Boy, 13, Is Arrested| work=The New York Times|date=13 December 2019| access-date=20 February 2020|first1=Michael| last1= Gold| first2= Jan| last2= Ransom| first3= Edgar| last3= Sandoval|quote=But also shocking have been revelations about ages of two of the suspects: They are 13 and 14 years old.}}</ref><ref name="NY Times Tessa Majors Killing: 14-Year-Old Boy Charged With Murder"/> A security guard then found her at the top of the staircase.<ref name="Southall" /> While she was still conscious, she told a witness that she was stabbed and robbed in the park.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/15/us/tessa-majors-new-york-stabbing/index.html|title=14-year-old boy arrested in stabbing death of Barnard College student Tessa Majors|first1=Ray|last1=Sanchez|first2=Elizabeth|last2=Joseph|date=February 15, 2020}}</ref> Police responded to the attack after a 911 call, finding Majors with multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at ].<ref name="Carlisle">{{cite web|url=https://time.com/5750299/tessa-majors-stabbing-barnard/| title=A Barnard Student's Stabbing Death Has Rattled NYC and a 13-Year-Old Is in Custody. Here's What to Know|date=December 14, 2019| access-date=December 20, 2019| website=Time.com| first1=Madeleine| last1= Carlisle| first2= Mahita| last2= Gajanan }}</ref> According to the city's medical examiner, Majors died due to stab wounds to her torso.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wate.com/news/national-world/medical-examiner-slain-barnard-student-tessa-majors-was-stabbed-in-torso/|title=Medical examiner: Slain Barnard student Tessa Majors was stabbed in torso|date=December 16, 2019}}</ref> After the altercation, the attackers went through Majors' pockets and fled.<ref name=NYMAG”/> Majors then attempted to climb up the steep stairs found at the park's entrance nearest to the university.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-stabbing-near-columbia-morningside-heights-20191212-ewofwz5e6jdshjl52dlbyqmyci-story.html| title=Barnard freshman stabbed to death in mugging in Morningside Park near Columbia, college mourns student 'just beginning her journey’ |newspaper=]| first1= Catherina| last1= Gioino| first2= Rocco| last2= Parascandola| first3= Kerry| last3= Burke| first4= John| last4= Annese| first5= Kathy| last5= Burke| date=December 11, 2019| access-date=December 22, 2019}}</ref> Majors staggered up the stairs and collapsed at the corner of Morningside Drive and 116th Street,<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/13/nyregion/tessa-majors-barnard-stabbing-arrest.html| title=Tessa Majors Killing: Boy, 13, Is Arrested| work=The New York Times|date=13 December 2019| access-date=20 February 2020|first1=Michael| last1= Gold| first2= Jan| last2= Ransom| first3= Edgar| last3= Sandoval|quote=But also shocking have been revelations about ages of two of the suspects: They are 13 and 14 years old.}}</ref><ref name="NY Times Tessa Majors Killing: 14-Year-Old Boy Charged With Murder"/> before being found by a security guard at the top of the staircase.<ref name="Southall" /> While still conscious, Majors told a witness of the events at the park.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/15/us/tessa-majors-new-york-stabbing/index.html|title=14-year-old boy arrested in stabbing death of Barnard College student Tessa Majors|first1=Ray|last1=Sanchez|first2=Elizabeth|last2=Joseph|date=February 15, 2020}}</ref> Police responded to the attack after a 911 call, finding Majors with multiple stab wounds. Majors was pronounced dead at ].<ref name="Carlisle">{{cite web|url=https://time.com/5750299/tessa-majors-stabbing-barnard/| title=A Barnard Student's Stabbing Death Has Rattled NYC and a 13-Year-Old Is in Custody. Here's What to Know|date=December 14, 2019| access-date=December 20, 2019| website=Time.com| first1=Madeleine| last1= Carlisle| first2= Mahita| last2= Gajanan }}</ref>


==Investigation and suspects== ==Investigation and suspects==
The day after the incident, the police arrested a thirteen-year-old male and charged him with felony murder and felony robbery.<ref name="Carlisle"/> The suspect was arrested after being caught trespassing while wearing clothes<ref name="NY Post Held Without Bail">{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2019/12/13/barnard-stabbing-suspect-held-without-bail-after-tessa-majors-murder/|title=Barnard stabbing suspect held without bail after Tessa Majors' murder|first=Priscilla|last=DeGregory|date=December 13, 2019}}</ref><ref name="CNN Remain In Custody">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/17/us/barnard-student-tessa-majors-stabbing-court-suspect/index.html|title=13-year-old suspect in death of Tessa Majors remains in custody after testimony about knife|author=Nicole Chavez, Laura Ly and Madeline Holcombe|website=Cnn.com}}</ref> and sneakers<ref name=NYMAG”/> that matched the description given of the suspects.<ref name="NY Post Held Without Bail" /><ref name="CNN Remain In Custody" /> The day after the incident, the police arrested a thirteen-year-old male and charged him with felony murder and felony robbery.<ref name="Carlisle"/> The suspect was arrested after being caught trespassing while wearing clothes<ref name="NY Post Held Without Bail">{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2019/12/13/barnard-stabbing-suspect-held-without-bail-after-tessa-majors-murder/|title=Barnard stabbing suspect held without bail after Tessa Majors' murder|first=Priscilla|last=DeGregory|date=December 13, 2019}}</ref><ref name="CNN Remain In Custody">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/17/us/barnard-student-tessa-majors-stabbing-court-suspect/index.html|title=13-year-old suspect in death of Tessa Majors remains in custody after testimony about knife|author=Nicole Chavez, Laura Ly and Madeline Holcombe|website=Cnn.com}}</ref> and sneakers<ref name=NYMAG”/> that matched the description given of the suspects.<ref name="NY Post Held Without Bail" /><ref name="CNN Remain In Custody" />


Judge Carol Goldstein set the suspect's trial date for March 16. She also has denied requests by his lawyers for him to be released into his aunt and uncle’s custody due to the seriousness of the charges against him.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bacon|first=John|last2=Ortiz|first2=Jorge L.|date=December 17, 2019|title=Tessa Majors murder: Judge orders 13-year-old suspect to remain in custody after court hearing|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/12/17/tessa-majors-13-year-old-suspect-due-in-court/2673249001/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-16|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref> In order to avoid the missteps that occurred during the ] case 30 years prior, police called in prosecutors early on in the case. Additionally, all questioning of the thirteen-year-old was video recorded.<ref name="Southall"/> Judge Carol Goldstein set the suspect's trial date for March 16. She also denied requests by his lawyers for him to be released into his aunt and uncle’s custody, due to the seriousness of the charges against him.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bacon|first=John|last2=Ortiz|first2=Jorge L.|date=December 17, 2019|title=Tessa Majors murder: Judge orders 13-year-old suspect to remain in custody after court hearing|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/12/17/tessa-majors-13-year-old-suspect-due-in-court/2673249001/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-16|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref> In order to avoid the missteps that occurred during the ] case 30 years prior, police called in prosecutors early on in the case. Additionally, all questioning of the thirteen-year-old was video recorded.<ref name="Southall"/>


A second suspect, who is fourteen, was arrested and released on December 12.<ref name="Sandoval200102">{{cite news |last1=Sandoval |first1=Edgar |title=Tessa Majors Murder: 13-Year-Old Suspect Must Remain in Custody |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/02/nyregion/tessa-majors-suspect-barnard-stabbing.html |accessdate=9 January 2020 |work=New York Times |date=2 January 2020}}</ref> A second suspect, who is fourteen, was arrested and released on December 12.<ref name="Sandoval200102">{{cite news |last1=Sandoval |first1=Edgar |title=Tessa Majors Murder: 13-Year-Old Suspect Must Remain in Custody |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/02/nyregion/tessa-majors-suspect-barnard-stabbing.html |accessdate=9 January 2020 |work=New York Times |date=2 January 2020}}</ref>

Revision as of 11:13, 19 October 2020

]</ref> In addition, the suspects are African-American and the killing is reported to have "resurfaced the longstanding racial and class tensions between Columbia University and the fast-gentrifying neighborhood of Harlem".

The New York Times has compared the case to the 1989 Central Park jogger case, which occurred nearby in the North Woods of Central Park; both cases involved "a young white woman attacked in a park and even younger teenage suspects". This comparison to the jogger case was echoed by Time and the Star Tribune. Gale Brewer, the borough president of Manhattan, urged detectives to proceed with caution to avoid an outcome similar to the jogger case. In an effort to avoid the mistakes made by police 30 years prior, all questioning of the suspects in the Tessa Majors case has been video recorded. New York magazine called it a defining, once-in-a-generation crime for New Yorkers.

References

  1. Kim, Elizabeth (12 February 2020). "Murder Of Tessa Majors Reignites Racial Tensions Surrounding Morningside Park". Gothamist. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  2. Kilgannon, Corey (14 December 2019). "A Park Shed Its Reputation. Then Came the Tessa Majors Murder". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  3. ^ Southall, Ashley; Dwyer, Jim (December 20, 2019). "How the Central Park 5 Case Looms Over the Tessa Majors Murder". The New York Times. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  4. Cite error: The named reference Carlisle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. Sisak, M. (26 December 2019). "Police release teen suspect in Barnard student's killing". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, MN. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  6. Gioino, Catherina; Greene, Leonard (December 13, 2019). "NYPD should not repeat Central Park 5 mistakes while investigating murder of Barnard College student, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer cautions". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  7. Cite error: The named reference NYMAG” was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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