He would have killed a homeless man for a “challenge”, a challenge, viral on TikTok. Therefore a 17 year old young man was arrested in New York on charges of murder and illegal possession of weapons. The victim, Leonidas Baez, was 39 years old and was sleeping near Times Square when the attack began.
The murder
The murder took place around 11.30pm on May 4th. The 17-year-old together with two accomplices, still wanted, spotted his victim outside the Burger & Lobster restaurant on 43rd Street, between Broadway and Sixth Avenue, next to Times Square. Baez is stabbed in the face, chest and back. There will be nothing for him to do.
The arrest
The attackers disappear until the 17-year-old is stopped by the police. The officers stopped him after he jumped over a turnstile at the Stillwell Avenue subway station. During a search they discover that the young man is carrying a scalpel, so they report him to the authorities who soon link him to the Times Square crime.
The teenager allegedly told police that he had participated in a viral “challenge” on TikTok that involves “harassing crack addicts.” Authorities said they had acquired security camera footage.