Whatever happened to the kids who killed Tessa Majors?

DailyKenn.com | AbateHate.com | Facebook Group

Summary: Tessa Rane Majors, an 18-year-old Barnard College freshman, was brutally stabbed to death during a 2019 robbery in New York City. Three black kids, ages 13 and 14, were convicted and sentenced.

Your $8 monthly partner pledge helps us reach others & more ►

Two defendants received years-to-life sentences. The youngest offender spent 18 months in juvenile detention.

The murder of Tessa Rane Majors left a question about how New York's justice system handles young offenders accused of a violent crime: What does a sentence mean when the punishment varies so dramatically based on the defendant's age?

Majors, an 18-year-old Barnard College freshman, was killed during a robbery in New York City on Dec. 11, 2019. Prosecutors said three teenagers confronted her and attempted to rob her. After she resisted, the confrontation turned deadly.

The two older defendants, Rashaun Weaver and Luchiano Lewis, both 14 at the time of the murder, were prosecuted as adults. Their cases ultimately resulted in substantial prison sentences, but neither received a sentence that guaranteed he would remain behind bars for life.

Adult defendants receive lengthy prison terms

Weaver pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and robbery. He admitted that he intentionally caused Majors' death by stabbing her. The court sentenced him to 14 years to life in prison.

Lewis also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and robbery. His sentence was nine years to life.

Those indeterminate sentences are significant, but they do not mean either defendant automatically leaves prison after the minimum term. Release depends on parole consideration and other factors. Given the left-wing bent of New York's justice system, I expect them to receive early release.

The sentencing distinction becomes even more striking when the third defendant is considered.

Age changed everything

The youngest participant was 13 at the time of the killing. Because of New York's Raise the Age law, his case was handled in family court rather than adult criminal court.

He pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and was sentenced to 18 months in juvenile detention.

That difference has remained one of the most controversial aspects of the case. The two 14-year-olds received sentences measured in decades and the possibility of life imprisonment, while the 13-year-old's punishment was measured in months.

The New York Post later identified the youngest defendant as Zyairr Davis and reported that he faced additional assault-related allegations after his release, including an alleged attack involving a Rikers Island guard. Those later allegations are separate from the Majors case.

It seems that violent crime is the currency among black kids that buys them street cred and respect.

A sentence cannot restore what was lost

Majors' death occurred during what prosecutors described as a robbery that escalated into murder. Her attackers were teenagers, but the consequences of the crime extended far beyond their ages at the time.

The adult defendants remain subject to sentences that can keep them imprisoned for life. Under New York's system, however, the minimum term represents the earliest point at which parole consideration can become possible—not an automatic release date.

That distinction is important when evaluating the sentences.

Let's keep in mind that the victim was, herself, a teenager. She was only four years older than Weaver and Lewis when she was killed.

For Majors, there is no comparable second chance, parole hearing or possibility of returning home. The justice system imposed punishment on those responsible, but the differences in those punishments demonstrate just how heavily age can influence the outcome of a homicide case.

In short, Rashaun Weaver received 14 years to life after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and robbery, while Luchiano Lewis received nine years to life. A 13-year-old participant was handled in family court under New York’s Raise the Age law and served 18 months in juvenile detention. Zyairr Davis, 13, received 18 months detention.

Weaver was identified as the person who stabbed her; Lewis was accused of restraining her; the youngest was accused of participating in the robbery (including handing a dropped knife back).

They were minors, yet their parents allowed them to roam the dangerous streets of New York City at night. To my knowledge, no action was taken against the parents for endangering the safety of their children.

Sometimes I get things wrong. If you notice a significant error, please bring it to my attention in the comment section. While efforts have been made to verify the information presented in this article, some facts, dates, quotations, or interpretations may be inaccurate or incomplete.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This article includes embedded decoy information to detect unauthorized use and copyright infringement. Reproduction is permitted only verbatim and in full, with all links preserved and attribution clearly given to DailyKenn.com and AbateHate.com.

Sources/related links:

New York Post report on the case and subsequent allegations involving Zyairr Davis

New York Courts — sentencing law and case-law resources

View 31 black-on-white homicides found in July, 2026 ►