A 14-year-old boy has been arrested for fatally stabbing a 13-year-old on a bus in Staten Island on Friday.
The victim, Syles Ular, attended the same middle school as his killer.
The incident took place in the town of Eltingville on Staten Island.
Witnesses say that the killer, whose name has not been publicly released, boarded the bus and got into an argument with Ular. The 14-year-old then grabbed him and stabbed him in the chest.
Some of the witnesses have said that he was stabbed as many as five times.
After being stabbed, Ular made it to the front of the bus before collapsing in front of the driver. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell has said that the motive was “possibly is gang related.”
Chell explained during a press conference that “gang signs were being shown back and forth. We have a male stabbed in the chest. Our perpetrator flees this bus.”
The suspect ran approximately three blocks before being stopped by three witnesses, including a retired NYPD sergeant.
“The retired sergeant started to follow the male who did the stabbing. At this time, another witness points him out as the one who just stabbed somebody and the sergeant affects the arrest,” Chell said. “Again, tragic, tragic homicide. We believe this motive is gang-related. Quick response and great response from our community.”
The bus was equipped with surveillance cameras, so police have a clear image of what transpired. The topic of the argument has not been publicly released.
Neighbors and relatives described Ular as sweet and loveable.
“Just a cute little kid. He’s a child, you know what I’m saying? He’s a child,” a neighbor named Camille told CBS News.
“He was nice, kind, smart kid. Quiet. Into sports. Loveable,” said Syles’s aunt Tasha.
“He was the sweetest little boy,” Syles’s cousin Mimi said. “He didn’t bother nobody … Playing basketball in the park with little kids that’s younger than him and stuff, like, that’s sweet.”
The 14-year-old has been charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon in connection to the heinous act.
