Family of ‘murdered’ teen Tessa Majors hits out at unproven claim that she was stabbed while ‘buying weed’
THE family of slain teen Tessa Majors has hit back at disputed claims the student was trying to buy marijuana when she was killed.
Tessa, 18, was stabbed to death in New York's crime-riddled Morningside Park on Wednesday evening in what police called a "robbery gone wrong".
Police have arrested and charged a 13-year-old boy in connection with her death.
Yesterday, NYPD sergeants' union head Ed Mullins claimed the Barnard College student was in the Upper Manhattan park trying to buy weed before she was stabbed to death.
Her family, along with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, fired back at the unproven claims, accusing the union boss of victim shaming and politcizing her alleged murder.
"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 slaughtered student's family said in a statement to .
"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."
The police have not commented on a possible marijuana connection to Majors' death.
De Blasio took to Twitter Sunday evening and fired back at Mullins' comments, adding "we don't shame victims in this city."
"This of Tessa's parents, her friends," the mayor tweeted. "This is heartless. It's infuriating."
During businessman John Catsimatidis' radio show, , Mullins compared Tessa's murder to what he calls a "lead-in" of increased crime rates the city witnessed in the 1970s and going into the 1980s.
"We have 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," Mullins said.
"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?’”
Mullins took the opportunity to bash the mayor as passing legislation that effectively forces police not to "enforce marijuana laws anymore’, adding “we're basically hands-off on the enforcement of marijuana."
He went on: "I understand the mayor made statements that this is surprising on how this could happen in New York City. When I heard that statement that was made, I really have to question what world he's living in to think this is surprising."
Current legislation recently signed into law by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo earlier this summer reduced criminal possession of marijuana to a violation. It capped fines at $200 and $50 for possessing less than 2 ounces and one ounce, respectively.
Authorities say Tessa was walking down a flight of steps into Morningside Park in upper Manhattan when she was approached by a group of three or four young men.
The men allegedly tried to rob her before one of them stabbed her multiple times in the stomach with a knife at around 5.30 pm on Wednesday evening.
As the men fled the scene, Tessa attempted to climb the steep walkway where she was found by Columbia University security guard.
She was taken to Mount Sinai St. Luke's where she succumbed to her injuries.
Tessa’s younger brother Maxwell Majors posted a photo Thursday of the two siblings when they were tots. He wrote a final farewell to his sister, calling her “the best sister and friend someone could ask for” before ending “I love you Tessa Rane.”
Police caught the 13-year-old boy on Thursday afternoon trespassing in a building wearing clothes that matched the description of the suspect.
The NYPD is now questioning a 14-year-old based on the younger boy’s statements.
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At a vigil held at the base of the steps where Tessa was murdered Sunday evening, students and concerned residents warned elected not to turn the aspiring musician's death into a political weapon.
"No political values" and "this is a vigil" yelled spectators as politicians spoke about how the current government has failed the accused 13-year-old boy charged in connection to her murder.
Morningside Park was the most dangerous park in city for muggings, with a reported 11 robberies in the first nine months of 2019, according to the New York Post.
