Bronx Teen's Murder: Career Criminal Arrested, NYPD Says

A 14-year-old boy, Caleb Rijos, was fatally stabbed in the Bronx, allegedly by 29-year-old Waldo Mejia, a man with a history of violence and mental health issues. Mejia, described by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch as a "career criminal," was quickly apprehended. He was found wearing the same clothes and possessing a bloody knife used in the attack.

The Suspect's History

Mejia's criminal record includes four prior arrests since 2015, involving charges such as stabbing (in 2024), burglary and arson (2019), firearm possession (2017), and knife possession (2015).

Commissioner Tisch lamented the systemic failures that allowed Mejia to remain on the streets, stating, "Today a 14-year-old boy is dead...the systems that we have in place to deal with repeat offenders and individuals with severe mental health issues continue to fail us."

The Attack

Surveillance footage captured Mejia's unprovoked attack on Rijos, who was walking to school. Rijos, despite being stabbed in the heart and lung, tried to escape before collapsing between parked cars. A bystander called for help, but Rijos tragically died on the way to the hospital.

Second Stabbing Incident

Mejia is also a suspect in a separate stabbing incident at a nearby subway station, where a 38-year-old man was stabbed in the arm. Police linked the two attacks and identified Mejia as the suspect.

Remembering Caleb Rijos

Caleb Rijos was remembered by his community as a bright student and football player at Bronx Leadership Academy. His death has left his family devastated and the city mourning.

Mejia faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon.