Tessa Majors, 18, died in hospital last week after she was stabbed allegedly by a group of young men during a mugging in a Manhattan park
The family of slain college student Tessa Majors has hit back at claims the teenager was in a New York park to buy marijuana before she was brutally stabbed to death.
The 18-year-old, who was a Barnard College freshman, died in hospital last week after she was stabbed allegedly by a group of young men during a mugging in a Manhattan park.
A 13-year-old boy is the only person to be arrested so far over the attack.
Majors’ grieving family on Monday slammed NYPD union president Ed Mullins after he claimed a day earlier that the college student was in the park at the time so she could buy drugs.
‘The remarks by Sergeants Benevolent Association president Ed Mullins we find deeply inappropriate, as they intentionally or unintentionally direct blame onto Tess, a young woman, for her own murder,’ the Majors family said in a statement.
‘We would ask Mr Mullins not to engage in such irresponsible public speculation, just as the NYPD asked our family not to comment as it conducts the investigation.
‘Our family is interested in knowing what exactly happened to Tess and who committed her murder. We believe, for the immediate safety of the community and the surrounding schools, that should be everyone’s top priority and we are grateful to the men and women of the NYPD for all of their efforts.’
Majors’ grieving family (pictured above with Majors) on Monday slammed NYPD union president Ed Mullins after he claimed a day earlier that the college student was in the park at the time so she could buy drugs
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (right) has also blasted Ed Mullins (left), the Sergeants Benevolent Association president,’ for victim shaming slain college student Tessa Majors
It comes after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also criticized Mullins for victim shaming.
‘Think of Tessa’s parents, her friends. This is heartless. It’s infuriating. We don’t shame victims in this city,’ de Blasio tweeted.
Mullins made the controversial comments about Majors on businessman John Catsimatidis’ radio program on Sunday.
‘An 18-year-old college student at one of the most prestigious universities is murdered in a park, and what I’m understanding, she was in the park to buy marijuana,’ he said.
‘And you think about that, we don’t enforce marijuana laws anymore. We’re basically hands-off on the enforcement of marijuana.
‘So here we have a student murdered by a 13-year-old and we have a common denominator of marijuana. You know, my question to the people of New York City is, ‘Why is this happening?’.’
Scott Hechinger, a public defender in Brooklyn, accused Mullins of ‘weaponizing’ Major’s murder to address reductions in marijuana enforcement
A number of defense attorneys and criminal justice reform advocates have also slammed Mullins on social media.
Scott Hechinger, a public defender in Brooklyn, accused Mullins of ‘weaponizing’ Majors’ murder to address reductions in marijuana enforcement.
‘Yes. The NYPD is weaponizing Tessa Major’s murder to attack reductions in marijuana enforcement & the prospect of legalization. Never fails. They use every tragedy to push their cynical agenda of more criminalization & greater harshness,’ Hechinger tweeted.
In a separate tweet, Hechinger said Mullins’ ‘fear-mongering argument also makes no sense.’
‘Assuming it’s even true that she was trying to buy marijuana in a park when killed, legalization would have prevented the need to go to a park. She would have been able to buy from a licensed dispensary. With surveillance footage,’ he said.
Police sources told the New York Post that detectives are investigating the marijuana angle, which came from one of the victim’s college friends.
Neighbors of the 13-year-old boy charged in the attack have said he was known to smoke marijuana.
Police say Majors was walking in Morningside Park, which is located down a staircase from street level, just before 7pm on December 11 when she was confronted by a group of young men and stabbed during a struggle.
Hundreds attend a candlelight vigil held for a murdered Barnard College student Tessa Majors on Sunday in the park where she was stabbed
Mourners held up their cellphones as part of a vigil for the slain teenager on Sunday night
Flowers are left at the entrance of Morningside Park in memory of Tessa Majors
Tributes were left at the school in Majors’ memory following her murder on December 11
She staggered up the stairway to a nearby street where she was spotted by a campus security guard who called 911. Majors died from her injuries in hospital.
A folding knife with a four-inch blade, which is being tested for DNA and fingerprints, was found near the scene of the attack.
A 13-year-old suspect has been arrested in relation to the attack and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
During his court hearing on Friday, Detective Vincent Signoretti testified that the boy said his two friends grabbed Majors, put her in a chokehold and robbed her.
The detective testified that the teen said he did not stab Majors. He allegedly watched his friend slash her with a knife and saw feathers flying out from her coat’s stuffing.
Police also detained a 14-year-old male suspect but later released him as they bolster their case.
A third youth is still wanted in connection with the murder.
The attackers are all believed to attend a middle school near the park, police have said.
Majors, pictured above with her parents, was walking in the park just before 7pm on December 11 when she was confronted by a group of young men and stabbed during a struggle
Police sources told the New York Post that detectives are investigating the marijuana angle, which came from one of the victim’s college friends
It comes as hundreds of mourners gathered in the park on Sunday night for a vigil honoring Majors.
Mourners in the crowd held onto each other as they fought back tears during the emotional vigil.
The vigil was organized by New York City officials and local leaders attended the event to not only pay tribute to Majors but to also try and determine solutions.
Assemblywoman Inez Dickens called on the city’s authorities to enforce a more proactive presence in the 30-acre park.
‘Not just additional lighting, not just additional cameras… We need officers foot patrol walking in the park 24 hours a day,’ Inez said.
Some officials not only blame the city for failing Majors, but for also failing local youth who don’t have the resources to stay off the streets.
City Councilman Mark Levine said: ‘We must do more to insure that every child in this neighborhood grows up with a loving community and the support that they need to be healthy adults.’
While some rallied behind local leaders calls for action, others said politics should not have been included at a a service honoring Majors’ life.
‘No political values!’ and ‘This is a vigil!’ some people yelled.