A heartbreaking and senseless act of violence unfolded in the Bronx on Friday morning, leaving a 14-year-old boy dead after he was fatally stabbed during an “unprovoked” attack. The incident occurred just before 9:33 a.m. near 300 East 138th Street, where Caleb Rijos, 14, was attacked by 29-year-old Waldo Mejia of the 200th block of Alexander Avenue. Rushed to NYC Health and Hospitals/Lincoln, Caleb tragically succumbed to his injuries.
Mejia, already known to law enforcement with four prior arrests, now faces serious charges including murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon. His previous criminal record includes a stabbing incident in 2024, burglary and arson in 2019, possession of a loaded gun in 2017, and carrying a knife in 2015. During a press conference, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch expressed outrage, saying, “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.”
Mejia is also suspected in a separate stabbing at the nearby Third Avenue-138th Street subway station, where he approached a 38-year-old male victim from behind and stabbed him in the arm. Thankfully, the adult victim survived, but required several stitches to close the wound. Police have now tied both incidents together and identified Mejia as the primary suspect in this series of violent attacks.
This tragedy has sparked concerns about safety in the Bronx and broader questions about how the justice system handles repeat offenders. The community is mourning the loss of Caleb Rijos and calling for stronger measures to prevent future acts of violence.
