A Bronx man accused of fatally stabbing a 14-year-old boy on his way to school was removed from court on Sunday after a bizarre outburst referencing the “White House” and “al Qaeda.”
The incident underscores mounting concerns about mental health and public safety in New York City.
The victim, Caleb Rios, was walking near Lincoln Avenue and East 138th Street at around 9 a.m. Friday when he was attacked.
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Authorities allege that 29-year-old Waldo Mejia, who lives on the same block as Rios’ family, plunged a knife into the boy’s chest.
Caleb managed to call his father moments before succumbing to his injuries.
“He called his father and told his father that he couldn’t breathe and that he was scared, and his father heard him dying,” Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said during a Saturday press conference.
Caleb was rushed to Lincoln Medical Center but died shortly after arrival.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch lamented the tragedy, stating, “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, who has a lengthy criminal record and a history of mental illness, was arraigned on charges of second-degree murder, attempted murder, and related offenses.
🚨 BREAKING: The man who killed a 14-year-old in New York has a long history of violent crimes, including stabbing someone just five days prior.
The suspect, 29-year-old Waldo Mejia, has been arrested and charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon.… pic.twitter.com/hsmHRN2WiD
— Tony Lane 🇺🇸 (@TonyLaneNV) January 12, 2025
His alleged crimes also include a separate stabbing incident on January 5, in which he attacked a 38-year-old man near Alexander Avenue and 138th Street, causing life-threatening injuries.
Court documents reveal a violent past for Mejia.
His record includes a 2017 arrest for possessing a loaded firearm and a 2019 arson charge for setting fire to the lobby of his ex-girlfriend’s building.
He pleaded down the arson charge to reckless endangerment and received a conditional discharge.
Neighbors describe Mejia as a constant source of fear. Surveillance footage from November showed him stabbing a neighbor’s Ring doorbell camera with a large knife.
WATCH: Ring footage shows the man suspected of randomly st-abbing and k-lling a 14-year-old boy as he walked to school in New York City, terrorizing his neighbors.
The career criminal, 29-year-old Waldo Mejia, was kicked out of court on Sunday for ranting about world politics.… pic.twitter.com/GBOE9wBjrt
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) January 12, 2025
One resident recounted Mejia’s erratic behavior, saying, “I’ve been really scared for lots of days in a row… We all knew what happened to the kid could have happened to me, my wife, or my mother.”
A couple living in the apartment below Mejia described him as “terrifying” and “mentally ill,” adding, “Every night at like 4 or 5 a.m. you’d hear him stomping around the apartment yelling, ‘Leave me the [expletive] alone!’”
During his court appearance, Mejia launched into a nonsensical rant, shouting about world politics, including references to the “White House” and “al Qaeda.”
A court officer described him as “just nuts.”
His defense attorney, Paul Horowitz, said he would not continue representing Mejia after the arraignment, stating, “He acted out. He was just screaming nonsense!”
The judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation for Mejia.
He remains in custody, with further legal proceedings pending.
The death of Caleb Rios has left the Bronx community reeling.
His family declined to comment further, with a relative stating they wanted privacy.
Meanwhile, neighbors expressed relief that Mejia had been apprehended, but the tragedy has raised urgent questions about the effectiveness of systems meant to address mental illness and prevent violent repeat offenses.
As the investigation continues, Caleb’s tragic death serves as a somber reminder of the vulnerabilities in public safety and the pressing need for reform.
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What kind of civilized society tolerates this repeated criminal behavior?