The 14-year-old boy knifed to death on a Bronx corner was the victim of a random attacker wanted for a separate stabbing, the NYPD said Saturday.
A person of interest was being questioned in the murder of Caleb Rios, as well as another random stabbing at the Third Ave. — E. 138th St. subway stop several days earlier, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.
The two separate attacks occurred about a half-block from each other.
“We believe at this time that the two incidents are connected and committed by the same perpetrator,” Kenny said at a press conference in Brooklyn.
Caleb was standing alone on the sidewalk near the corner of E. 138th St. and Lincoln Ave. at about 9:30 a.m. Friday when the lanky suspect approaches and “immediately stabs him two times in the chest,” Kenny said.
The mortally wounded teen ran off down E. 138th St. toward Alexander Ave., where cops were called.
EMS rushed the teen to Lincoln Hospital, but he couldn’t be saved.
Surveillance footage viewed by the Daily News shows Caleb sprinting north on Lincoln Ave. past a Gasolina station before darting east along E. 138th St., his attacker hot on his heels.
Kenny said his detectives distributed surveillance images of the attacker to the public as well as all officers on patrol. A short time later, a transit cop said that the man looked exactly like the suspect wanted for a Jan. 5 stabbing at the Third Ave. — E. 138th St. subway station.
In that case, a 38-year-old man was heading down the subway stairs heading to the No. 6 train, when the suspect jumped him from behind for no reason and stabbed him in the left arm, Kenny said.
The victim was taken to an area hospital, where he needed stitches to close the wound, police said.
“A police officer from the transit bureau recognized the perpetrator from the January 5th incident and notified detectives,” Kenny said. “We quickly realized that the two cases were similar.”
The attacker is described as a Hispanic man between 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-3. During Friday’s stabbing, he was wearing a black jacket, grey pants, white gloves, and black sneakers with a white stripe. He also appears to be carrying a backpack.
Caleb’s devastated father told the Daily News Friday that his family was still trying to piece together the events that led to his son’s senseless murder.
“He was a wonderful boy. He was caring and loving. It’s hard right now,” said Jacob Rios, 52.
“We’re discussing the next steps. The police are still doing their investigation. We don’t really know what happened.”
Caleb called his father moments after the stabbing, according to a worker at the Gasolina station, who is a friend of the teen’s family.
“He called his father saying, ‘Dad I can’t breathe,’” said the friend, who asked that his name be withheld. “He was running and the other guy got him.”
Caleb didn’t deserve to die in the streets, the family friend said.
“It’s crazy. It doesn’t make sense,” he said. “He was a good kid. He always dressed nice. He wasn’t a street kid.”
Police are asking anyone with information regarding these two attacks to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.