Tessa Majors case: Teenager Luchiano Lewis pleads guilty to second degree murder of Barnard College student

One of the teens accused of killing a Barnard College student Tessa Majors in 2019, pleaded guilty to second degree murder and first degree theft, reports CBS New York. Luchiano Lewis, now 16, faced a judge on Tuesday and was charged as an adult.

Majors, 18, was killed in Morningside Park in New York City on December 11 after being stabbed to death in an attempted robbery. Prosecutors charged three teenagers with participating in the robbery that led to his death.

In a statement he read in court on Tuesday, Lewis said using a knife in the assault was “not part of our plan,” CBS New York reported. He said he saw his classmate Rashaun Weaver kick him in the back and yell, “Give me your money!” before the two fell to the ground, where they got into a fight before he saw a witness and told the boys to leave.

He also said he didn’t know she had been stabbed by Weaver until he saw feathers come out of her jacket, and he didn’t know she was dead until he ‘he saw news reports the next day, according to CBS New York.

Weaver has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His lawyer spoke after Lewis’s hearing to remind viewers of the young age of the boys at the time of Majors’ death.

“It was not a premeditated murder, as we heard inside,” the attorney said, according to CBS New York. “He’s a 14 and 13 year old boy and we should all remember that.”

A third teenager involved in the shooting was sentenced last year after pleading guilty to first degree robbery.

In a statement to CBS New York after the hearing, Majors’ family said they were made aware of the second guilty plea. “We remain committed to believing that all parties who bear responsibility for Tess’ senseless death will be held accountable, and we are deeply grateful to the many who continue to pursue this goal,” the family said.