STATEN ISLAND, NY – A 14-year-old boy has been taken into custody and faces murder charges in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 13-year-old peer on a Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus last Friday. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. near the intersection of Littlefield Avenue and Hylan Boulevard.
According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), a witness on the bus reported an altercation between the two teenagers, who were both students at the same middle school. The witness stated that the older boy brandished a knife and exchanged gang signs with the younger boy before stabbing him in the chest.
The deceased has been identified as 13-year-old Syles Ular. The accused, whose identity has not been released due to his age, has been charged with murder, manslaughter, and weapon possession. Witnesses on the bus reported that Ular was stabbed up to five times before he managed to reach the front of the bus and collapsed in front of the driver.
MTA officials praised the bus driver for his quick response, immediately contacting the control center to request police assistance. First responders decided not to wait for an ambulance, opting to transport Ular to the nearest hospital in a police cruiser. Unfortunately, Ular was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The suspect fled the scene, running approximately three blocks before being apprehended with the help of a retired NYPD sergeant, a New York Department of Environmental Conservation officer, and a civilian. The police are currently questioning the suspect and believe the incident may be gang-related.
Demetrius Crichlow, Senior Vice President NYC Transit Department of Subways, confirmed that the MTA is assisting the NYPD in the investigation. He also indicated that surveillance footage from the bus provides a clear account of the incident.