Murder in Morningside Park : The Tessa Majors Case

<p>As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Tessa Rane Majors with me today. <br>On December 11, 2019, 18-year-old Tessa Majors, a first-year student at Barnard College in New York City, was attacked during an attempted robbery in Morningside Park, near her campus. Three teenagers approached her, and 14-year-old Rashaun Weaver stabbed her repeatedly during the confrontation. Tessa managed to reach a staircase leading out of the park, where a security guard found her. She was taken to a hospital but died from her injuries.</p><p>Investigators identified Weaver and two other teenagers: Luchiano Lewis, also 14, and a 13-year-old whose case was handled in juvenile court. The youngest admitted participating in the robbery and described Weaver stabbing Tessa. Lewis also identified Weaver as the person who wielded the knife.</p><p>In 2020, the 13-year-old pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and received 18 months in juvenile detention. Lewis, who was prosecuted as an adult, pleaded guilty to murder and robbery in September 2021 and was sentenced the following month to nine years to life in prison.</p><p>Weaver pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in December 2021, admitting that he intentionally killed Tessa by stabbing her. On January 19, 2022, he was sentenced to 14 years to life in prison. That sentence allows him to seek parole after the minimum term; it does not guarantee his release. His sentencing concluded the criminal proceedings against the three teenagers.</p>