Bronx serial stabber kills 14-year-old, injures man on subway stairs, police believe

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Credit: NYPD

NEW YORK - A 14-year-old boy was randomly stabbed and killed in the Bronx on Friday, and police believe the perp may be responsible for another unprovoked stabbing attack.

What we know:

According to police, 14-year-old Caleb Rios was standing on a corner outside the Mitchell Houses in Mott Haven on Friday morning when the attacker approached him from behind and, unprovoked, stabbed him twice in the back.

The teen was found unconscious and taken to Lincoln Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Subway stairs stabbing

During their investigation, police found video of the attack and released images of the stabber. An officer believed he recognized the suspect from another incident earlier in the week:

On Sunday, a 38-year-old man was randomly stabbed from behind on the subway stairs of the Third Avenue–138th Street station, according to police. The victim was stabbed in the arm and is expected to be OK.

A person of interest, described as a tall Hispanic man, is in custody, the NYPD said. Police are working with the Bronx District Attorney’s Office on possible charges.

What we don't know:

Police have not released the name of the person of interest. It is unclear if the Bronx serial stabber is responsible for other crimes.

Crime in NYC 

Dig deeper:

According to NYPD statistics, overall crime was down in New York City in 2024 by around 3% compared to 2023, year to date. Murders were down 3.8%, with 375 this past year as opposed to 390 in 2023.

Murders were down 3.8%, with 375 this past year as opposed to 390 in 2023, but the city saw a 4.9% increase in felony assaults.

"While there were thousands fewer victims of major crimes—including shootings, murders, robberies, and other violent acts—in 2024, there is still much more work to be done to keep New Yorkers safe, to make them feel safe, and to improve their overall quality of life in the year ahead," Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

What you can do:

Anyone with information regarding the stabbing attacks is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.