Staten Island teen stabbed to death on MTA bus

Teenager Dies after a Stabbing Incident in MTA Bus on Staten Island, Suspected Gang Ties

Details of the Tragic Incident

In what is seen as a shocking incident, a 13-year-old boy, identified as Syles Ular of Staten Island, was fatally stabbed on an MTA bus on Friday. The subsequent arrest of a 14-year-old boy in connection with the gruesome event has led the police to believe that the incident could be gang-related.

According to NYPD, the incident took place around 2:30 P.M. near Hyland Boulevard, close to Littlefield Avenue in the Eltingville neighborhood. Witnesses describe a heated exchange between the two on the bus, followed by the elder teen stabbing the 13-year-old multiple times in the chest.

Witness Accounts of the Incident

Eye-witness accounts reveal that Ular was seated on the bus when the altercation ensued. One of the teenage occupants of the bus recalled, "The assailant pulled out a knife from his pocket, engaged the other boy, and didn't stop stabbing until he ran off." In his desperate need for help, Ular is said to have stumbled his way off the bus, shouting, "Help, someone call the cops, I can't breathe".

Anthony Esemplaire, another witness, spoke about the assailant's show of edginess before he absconded. He said, "I noticed him constantly looking around and fidgeting before he darted off. It's distressing, being this is one of the safest neighborhoods. I never witnessed anything like this".

The Pursuit and Arrest of the Suspect

Swift actions by a retired NYPD sergeant and a state environmental conservation officer who happened to be in the vicinity, led to the arrest of the 14-year-old suspect. NYPD Chief of Patrol, John Chell narrates, "The retired officer, following the perpetrator, gets tipped off about him being the stabber by a witness. That's when the sergeant apprehended him."

Despite efforts, the stabbed teen eventually succumbed to his wounds at a local hospital. The seizing of the bus by investigators for evidence collection and surveillance camera footage checks are underway. A deeply impacted bus driver, as per the MTA, is receiving treatment for trauma.

As police explore the possibility of the assault having gang undercurrents, the death of the young boy, Syles Ular, brings to light the urgency of addressing issues related to youth gang violence in our communities.