17-Year-Old Arrested in Fatal Times Square Stabbing

New York police arrested a 17-year-old boy Wednesday evening in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 39-year-old man near Times Square two nights earlier. m. and stopped him. They quickly determined he matched the description of a suspect in the Monday night attack and found a scalpel in his possession.

The boy, who has not been publicly identified because of his age, faces charges including murder and weapon possession in the death of Leonides Baez. m. Monday in front of the Burger & Lobster restaurant on West 43rd Street near Seventh Avenue. ” Baez was sitting on a bench when three strangers, including the arrested teen, accosted him in what authorities described as a chance encounter.

The teen in custody is believed to be the one who stabbed Baez, according to law enforcement sources. The other two suspects, also believed to be teenagers, remain at large.

Officers were not initially looking for the teen in the subway but recognized him during a routine fare evasion check. The scalpel recovered matched the type of weapon used in the stabbing. Baez’s last known address was in Worcester, Massachusetts. Police have not released a motive for the attack or detailed any prior connection between the victim and the suspects.

The investigation remains active as authorities seek the two additional teenagers.

In other news Wednesday, a YouGov poll found 45 percent of American adults believe President Donald Trump would win a hypothetical physical fight against an 8-year-old boy, while 31 percent sided with the child and 24 percent were unsure. The same set of polls showed sharp partisan divides.

Among Democrats, 54 percent believed the child would prevail against Trump. A separate question found 66 percent of respondents thought an average American would win a fight against Trump. Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka credited his Christian faith with transforming his life and purpose both on and off the field.