College student, 18, is beaten and stabbed to death in savage robbery by a ‘group of thugs’ while walking in a park near her New York campus
- Tessa Majors, 18, was killed during a mugging in Manhattan, New York, on Wednesday
- Majors was in Morningside Park when a suspect stabbed her multiple times in the stomach
- She attempted to get help from a nearby security guard booth, but the guard was not there and Majors collapsed
- A 16-year-old boy has been taken into custody, but there are no formal charges
- Majors was part of the freshman class at Barnard University
- Barnard President Sian Beilock addressed the student body in an email
Tessa Majors (pictured), 18, was stabbed to death on Wednesday evening
A young Barnard College student was fatally stabbed to death during a mugging in Manhattan before she collapsed near a vacant security guard booth while looking for help.
The Columbia Spectator identified that victim as 18-year-old Tessa Majors, a first year student in Barnard College’s 2023 graduating class.
Police say Majors was walking down a flight of steps into Morningside Park on W. 116th Street on Wednesday evening when she was approached by a group of unidentified young men.
The young men allegedly tried to rob Majors before one of them stabbed her in the stomach with a knife around 5.30pm, The New York Daily News reports.
Majors (pictured) was walking in Morningside Park in Manhattan, New York, when a group of young men tried to rob her around 5.30pm
The group of men fled the scene as Majors attempted to climb the steep walkway to a nearby Columbia University guard booth for help, but the guard was around doing his rounds at the time.
Majors collapsed in Morningside Park, where the security guard later found her and called emergency services.
Majors, who suffered from several stab wounds, was rushed to Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries and died.
Pictured: NYPD officers searching the stairs in Morningside Park near where Majors was attacked and subsequently collapsed
After the stabbing, Majors (pictured) staggered to a nearby security guard booth for help but found it vacant
Authorities discovered a woman’s hat, a butterfly knife and an uncharged cellphone near Majors.
Officers reportedly followed a trail of blood to a fifth-floor apartment at the Grant Houses less than 10 minutes away from the scene.
Inside the home, they found a 16-year-old wearing a green jacket who matched the description of the attacker.
Authorities have a 16-year-old boy in custody, but no formal charges in Majors case have been filed yet
The boy has been taken into police custody, but formal charges have not been filed.
Barnard President Sian Beilock sent a statement to the student body following the tragic incident.
‘Tessa was just beginning her journey at Barnard and in life. We mourn this devastating murder of an extraordinary young woman and member of our community,’ Beilock wrote.
‘This is an unthinkable tragedy that has shaken us to our core. Please know that we are all grieving together and I am thinking of you as we process this awful news as a community.’
The email says Majors parents have been notified and they are currently enroute to New York City.