In a shocking turn of events, a Bronx resident with a history of violence and mental instability, Waldo Mejia, 29, is accused of the brutal murder of a 14-year-old boy, Caleb Rios.
Mejia allegedly stabbed the young boy in the chest while he was on his way to school. The incident took place on East 138th Street on a Friday morning. Mejia, who resides in the same neighborhood as the victim's family and opposite the 40th Precinct, was also arraigned for an unrelated stabbing incident that occurred a week prior.
According to The New York Post, Mejia, who has a long criminal record and a history of mental illness, disrupted his initial court appearance with incoherent outbursts about global politics. A court officer reported that Mejia began shouting phrases such as "White House!" and "al-Qaeda!" The officer described Mejia as "just nuts," a sentiment clearly visible in his demeanor.
Mejia's attorney, Paul Horowitz, confirmed that his client was remanded and ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Horowitz stated, "I will not be defending him in the future. I was just here for the arraignment. He acted out. He was just screaming nonsense!"
The tragic incident unfolded when Caleb Rios was walking to school near Lincoln Avenue and 138th Street around 9 a.m. It was then that Mejia allegedly launched his gruesome attack. The incident led NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch to criticize the state's legal system, stating it "continue[s] to fail us."
As Caleb lay dying from his wounds, he made a heart-wrenching final phone call to his father, according to prosecutors. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark shared the chilling details, "He called his father and told his father that he couldnt breathe and that he was scared, and his father heard him dying. Its unfathomable to think about the level of this tragedy."
Despite being rushed to Lincoln Medical Center, Caleb succumbed to his injuries. Commissioner Tisch lamented, "Today, a 14-year old-boy is dead. A family is devastated, a city is in mourning, and the systems that we have in place to deal with repeat offenders and individuals with severe mental health issues continue to fail us."
The Rios family chose to maintain their privacy during this difficult time, declining to speak to The New York Post.
In addition to the murder charge, Mejia is also facing attempted murder charges for allegedly stabbing another man near Alexander Avenue and the 138th Street Station in Mott Haven on January 5, as per a criminal complaint. The complaint detailed the severity of the attack, stating that the 38-year-old victim suffered a significant loss of blood and loss of consciousness, requiring life-saving surgery at a local Bronx hospital. This incident led to additional assault charges for Mejia.
Mejia's criminal history includes at least four more cases, including a May 2017 arrest for possession of a loaded 9mm pistol and an April 2019 arson charge for setting fire to the lobby of his ex-girlfriends building. He later pleaded the arson charges down to reckless endangerment and was granted a conditional discharge.
Mejia was infamous among his neighbors for his terrorizing behavior, even going so far as to stab one of their Ring doorbell cameras with a large blade in November. One resident, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed relief at Mejia's arrest, admitting to living in fear for many days.
A young couple living directly below Mejia described him as "fking insane," stating they were terrified of him. They reported hearing him stomping around his apartment and yelling in the early hours of the morning. They expressed their shock and disbelief at the tragic incident, stating, "We all knew he was mentally ill, but we didnt think he was going to do this."
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