A troubled man from the Bronx repeatedly slipped through the cracks in New York City’s flawed system, sparking outrage that only after allegedly taking the life of a 14-year-old boy was he finally committed to a psychiatric facility. The story of Waldo Mejia, who declared “I’m with Satan!” in court following a random knife attack on teenager Caleb Rijos, highlights the urgent need to reform the state’s laws on involuntary commitment, according to politicians and lawyers speaking to The Post. Mark Bederow, a defense attorney in New York City not involved in the case, stated, “New York City’s criminal justice system, including the ever-changing bail regulations, is ill-equipped to handle individuals exhibiting clear signs of mental illness and engaging in bizarre, violent behavior. There were numerous warning signs with this individual before this tragic incident, and it is simply senseless.”
Mejia, now 29, has a history of escalating mental health issues, including threatening his mother, setting fire to his ex-girlfriend’s building lobby, and vandalizing a neighbor’s doorbell camera. Despite this, he repeatedly avoided mental health treatment, allowing him to allegedly assault a subway rider and ultimately fatally stab Rijos in January. Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo (R-Staten Island) voiced frustration, stating, “He’s committing these acts right in front of us, yet our criminal justice system lets it happen time and time again.” Pirozzolo has proposed legislation that would mandate mental health treatment for individuals arrested for the same crime ten times.
Following Mejia’s arrest for Rijos’ murder, a judge has ordered him to a psychiatric facility pending trial on murder and manslaughter charges. This decision comes amid discussions in Albany regarding Gov. Kathy Hochul’s push to expand involuntary commitment laws, which faced resistance from Democratic lawmakers considering a less robust approach involving review panels for cases where mentally ill individuals slip through the cracks or cause harm.
While there is broad acknowledgment among key figures including Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx), and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Westchester) that changes are needed, the specifics of these reforms have not yet been determined. The tragic death of Rijos has prompted calls for action to address repeat offenders with severe mental health issues. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch emphasized the need for a new approach, particularly in cases involving individuals with extensive criminal histories and mental health challenges.
As discussions continue, the focus remains on finding solutions to prevent further tragedies like Rijos’ killing at the hands of a troubled individual like Mejia.
Zophrenia and his family had encouraged him to seek treatment voluntarily after a 2015 arrest. Despite this, he often stopped taking his medication, as noted by his stepbrother to Gothamist. The 2015 arrest, where Mejia was found with a gravity knife purportedly for protection, was the first of multiple occasions when NYPD officers took him into custody, according to law enforcement sources. Following this, Mejia was arrested in May 2017 after his mother reported that he threatened to destroy her Bronx home. When confronted by his mother, Mejia claimed to have a gun, leading to his arrest by the police. The outcomes of both weapons-related cases were unclear. In 2019, Mejia was arrested again for setting fire to the lobby of his ex-girlfriend’s Bronx apartment building, resulting in a charge reduction to reckless endangerment with a condition of mental health treatment. Prior to Rijos’ death, there were incidents of Mejia aggressively interacting with neighbors, including vandalizing a doorbell camera. Another arrest occurred in 2024, where Mejia was caught on video stabbing a doorbell camera with a knife. Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal to address New York City’s mental health crisis, which includes expanding involuntary commitment criteria, faced opposition from the state Legislature. Mejia’s defense attorney highlighted his client’s history of mental health issues and medication non-compliance. New York’s bail reforms and legal constraints complicated Mejia’s case, potentially leading to missed opportunities for mental health intervention. The incidents involving Mejia underscore the challenges in addressing mental health issues within the justice system.
A week after the incident at the Aven train station, Rijos was walking to school on East 138th Street when Mejia stabbed him twice in the chest, according to police. Rijos, as he lay dying, called his father and expressed fear and difficulty breathing, as shared by Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark to reporters.
A neighbor of the Rijos family, Ideliz Rodriguez, aged 47, mentioned that the teenager’s father has been deeply affected by the tragic stabbing incident, becoming withdrawn and seldom speaking. Another family friend, Elizabeth Lawson, described Rijos’ father as being constantly upset and angry.
A crowd gathered for a memorial to honor Rijos, expressing disbelief that such a tragedy could occur and criticizing the delayed response to prevent such incidents. Inside Rijos’ apartment building lobby, his friends and neighbors created a memorial with posters, balloons, flowers, and messages of love and calls for justice. One note emphasized that mental illness should not be used as an excuse for taking an innocent life.
