Man charged in stabbing death of 14-year-old Bronx boy who was walking to school
MOTT HAVEN, the Bronx (WABC) -- A man was arrested Saturday in the unprovoked stabbing death of a 14-year-old Bronx boy who was on his way to school the day before, and police say it was the suspect's second stabbing attack in a week.
The suspect, Waldo Mejia, 29, shouted expletives at reporters Saturday as he was escorted out of the 40th Precinct in handcuffs. Authorities say they found him with weapons, including the bloody knife they say was used in the murder of young Caleb Rijos, who was discovered on the street with multiple stab wounds to the chest Friday morning and declared dead at a nearby hospital.
Investigators quickly obtained and distributed an image of the suspect fleeing the scene, and soon figured out he was allegedly responsible for more violence.
"During the course of this homicide investigation, an officer assigned to the Transit Bureau recognized that the suspect in this murder looked very similar to another perpetrator that had committed a stabbing on East 138th Street on the subway stairs," said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny.
In that unprovoked attack on Jan. 5, police say Mejia approached from behind and stabbed a man in the arm.
Late last year, police say Mejia plunged a knife into his neighbor's Ring camera. He was arrested on November 27.
"The suspect in that case, Mr. Waldo Mejia was charged and released on his own recognizance. When detectives showed the arresting officer in that case, the images taken from Friday's stabbing - she immediately recognized the perp as Mr. Mejia," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
The detective work brought police practically to Mejia's doorstep where he was arrested just hours after the murder - adding to a rap sheet that also included lighting someone's home on fire and gun possession.
"I think the biggest thing when we're talking about (is) people with serious mental illnesses ... we need more resources to hold people accountable when they commit crimes and it's related to their mental illness," said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark.
Police say Mejia has a history of interactions with the NYPD in which his mental health played a role.
On Saturday, Mejia was charged with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon. Charges could also be coming for the recent subway stabbing.
Rijos is the third minor to have been killed in 2025 in New York City.
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