A memorial for Nathaniel Rivers, 35, who was allegedly stabbed to loss of life by 19-year-old "neighborhood menace" Franklin Mesa, within the Bronx Thursday.
Tomas E. Gaston for NY Publish
All it took was a shrug from a stranger to ship accused killer Franklin Mesa over the sting, recalled a Bronx man who was allegedly attacked by the “neighborhood menace” final 12 months.
Mesa, 19, was arraigned on a homicide cost Saturday for the allegedly unprovoked killing of beloved Norwood resident, Nathaniel Rivers, 35, who was stabbed to loss of life in entrance of his horrified spouse.
When Mesa — who's now being held behind bars on $500,000 money bail or $1.5 million bond after showing in Bronx Felony Courtroom within the homicide case — allegedly pounced on an unsuspecting Bryan Diaz in April 2021, was arrested for assault — and shortly launched.
“I feel he obtained out the subsequent day,” Diaz, now 20, advised The Publish.
“I used to be actually mad with the entire scenario. When he obtained arrested, the cops sorta shrugged at me after I requested what else will be carried out. They have been like, “you'll be able to’t actually do a lot as a result of the system protects him as a result of he has a psychological sickness. And I used to be, like, ‘thanks?’ I used to be actually indignant as a result of if he might do that to me, he might do that to another person or attempt to kill them.”
Diaz and his mom, Gabriella Calderon have been strolling dwelling from his aunt’s home final 12 months once they handed Mesa on the road.
Mesa mentioned hello to Calderon. Since neither one knew Mesa, Diaz mentioned he shrugged at him in confusion.
Mesa then sucker-punched Diaz, attacking him from behind, the sufferer recalled.
The 2 began brawling on the sidewalk, with Diaz managing to ship a blow to Mesa together with his umbrella. Mesa then went inside his constructing to name for his family members, Diaz mentioned.
Diaz escaped the assault with only a bloody nostril, he mentioned, however was livid with the police response.
Mesa additionally allegedly sliced one other neighbor within the face final 12 months, in keeping with Diaz and one other resident, Jay Rodriguez, although legislation enforcement sources couldn’t affirm the incident.
The lethal assault which lastly landed Mesa behind bars occurred Thursday at East 205 Avenue and Decatur Avenue, when authorities and neighbors say the schizophrenic youthful man approached Rivers and commenced exchanging phrases with him.
Mesa then immediately plunged a knife into Rivers’ chest whereas his horrified spouse seemed on, cops mentioned, mortally wounding the dad of 1, who was well-liked within the neighborhood.
Diaz was appalled to listen to Mesa allegedly killed Rivers.
“It’s unhappy. I feel the system actually tousled and allowed it to occur,” he mentioned. “They might’ve carried out extra to forestall it.”
Franklin Mesa’s grandmother, Ramona Santos, defended her grandson and claimed he was visiting his mom and siblings on a hundred and eightieth Avenue when the stabbing occurred.
“When he got here dwelling that day, he didn’t have any blood or bruises on him or something,” Santos advised The Publish by way of a translator Saturday. “He simply got here dwelling, watched some TV and went to sleep.”
An indignant downstairs neighbor heckled Mesa’s grandmother whereas she spoke with The Publish.
“Your boy ought to f–king burn in hell,” he yelled. “He killed my good friend.”
Santos mentioned Mesa has been seeing a health care provider to deal with his schizophrenia for the previous seven years and takes a number of prescriptions day-after-day. She gave The Publish an inventory of the every day medicines he was speculated to take, together with the antipsychotic Clozapine, which is used to deal with schizophrenia. The opposite medicines have been laxatives, probiotics and iron, and he was additionally instructed to make use of an inhaler for lung points.
Surveillance video exhibits Mesa strolling to the scene of the homicide, then sprinting away minutes later with a big knife in his hand, prosecutors alleged at his Saturday court docket look. The video additionally depicts him dropping the knife in a stranger’s yard and “working again to his mom’s dwelling,” the Bronx District Lawyer’s workplace contended.
Mesa lives together with his grandmother and aunt, protection lawyer Michael Rooney advised the court docket, describing Mesa as “disabled” and noting he's not at school.
Mesa appeared in court docket carrying a wrinkled white t-shirt, black shorts, black socks, and white sneakers. He wore a surgical masks and had his head bent down the whole time. His aunt and grandmother have been within the again row of the court docket, however they declined to remark.
Mesa was the kind of individual folks within the neighborhood are inclined to keep away from, mentioned Rodriguez, 34, who has been pals with Rivers for 25 years.
“He assaulted a person final 12 months — sliced him within the face. So what's he doing on the road once more?” Rodriguez mentioned. “We didn’t see him for a month however then he was again dwelling. What’s the purpose?”
A memorial to Rivers outdoors his house constructing included a poster board together with his picture on it, messages from family members, two empty bottles of cognac and at the very least 50 prayer candles.
Rodriguez described Rivers because the mayor of the neighborhood.
“Each time somebody handed by, he’d at all times say ‘Hello’ and ‘Good morning,’” he mentioned. “If anybody wanted assist with their grocery baggage, he’s the one serving to them.”
“I’m distraught,” he continued. “You see the man sooner or later after which he’s gone the subsequent. I’ll by no means see his smile once more.”
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