Teen Suspect In Tessa Majors Killing Questioned, Released: NYPD

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, NY — A teenager that police were hunting in connection to the killing of Barnard freshman Tessa Majors has been questioned and released, NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison announced.

Harrison said on Thursday that the suspect who police released photos of last week was located, and that the investigation into Majors' death is ongoing. No charges against the teenager were announced.

The 14-year-old suspect was questioned at the 26th Precinct in Harlem with an attorney present during "the entire investigative process," Harrison said. The boy was released to the custody of his lawyers — with the consent of his mother — and the investigation into Majors' death "remains very active," the NYPD Chief of Detectives said.

Police had a court order to obtain forensic evidence from the 14-year-old during questioning, Harrison said. The boy exercised his right not to answer any questions asked of him by detectives, the police official said. Results from forensic tests should return in about a week or longer, Harrison said during a Friday afternoon press conference.

Majors was stabbed to death on Dec. 11 while walking through Morningside Park. Police officials said the killing likely occurred during a botched robbery, and that the suspects in the case are juveniles. One 13-year-old is facing charges of felony murder, weapons possession and robbery, but is not suspected to have stabbed Majors himself.

Read more about the murder in Patch's prior coverage.