Cops: Teen accused in Bronx rape attempt admitted molesting 11-year-old girl

BRONX, N.Y. (WABC) -- A high school student accused of trying to rape a 15-year-old girl in the Bronx was in court Friday after elevator surveillance video led to his arrest, and police say he confessed to another disturbing crime.

Police say 17-year-old Darrien Warren was captured on the security video leaving a building in the Belmont section after sexually assaulting the girl Wednesday.

The victim was able to fight him off, and that's when he got away with her cell phone.

The video hit the media Thursday, and within hours, Warren's classmates at the Eagle Academy for Young Men recognized him and notified the school, which then called authorities.

"When we got to the school, his classmates surrounded him and pointed him out for us, saying, 'That's him, that's him,' so it went very well," NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said. "We brought him back to the precinct, and he gave a partial statement that he was in the building at the time."

Police say Warren has also confessed to a May 2014 incident in which he says he inappropriately touched an 11-year-old girl.

He has now been charged in both crimes.

"There is a crime he is charged with, a forcible touching from last year, which we are charging him with," Boyce said. "Which he admits to doing, by the way, attempted rape."

The news is a black eye for the Eagle Academy schools, which try to empower young men of color and steer them to college and serve about 2,000 students across the Tri-State Area.

In a statement, the foundation that runs the schools said, "We are very proud that our young men have shown through their actions that they will not tolerate alleged criminal behavior. These young men are committed to building safe streets and safe communities."

The foundation said it is sending thoughts and prayers to the victim in the case, but also said justice must take its course.