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The shattered father of Barnard student Tessa Majors described the family’s “immeasurable pain” on Thursday — as a judge sentenced one of her killers to the maximum of nine years to life in prison.
“On December 11, 2019, the hopes and dreams for our daughter Tess came to a tragic end,” read Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos on behalf of Inman Majors, who wept in the gallery in Manhattan Supreme Court.
“Nearly two years later, we still find words inadequate to describe the immeasurable pain, trauma, and suffering that our family has endured since her senseless murder,” the father wrote. “Tess was a brilliant student, a voracious reader, a poet and a fledgling journalist. She had big dreams.”
But that all ended after the college freshman encountered Luchiano Lewis, now 16, and his friends.
Lewis and two middle school pals — Rashaun Weaver, then 14, and Zyairr Davis, then 13 — stabbed Majors, 18, to death during the botched robbery in Morningside Park.
Inman Majors, an English professor at James Madison University, described the pain that he and his family continue to endure over the loss of their daughter, who had just moved to the Big Apple from Virginia when she was slain.
“Our hearts ache as we watch Tess’ friends return to school, perform concerts, start new jobs, and experience all the things that our daughter never will,” he wrote in the heartbreaking statement. “It is hard for many old friends to be around us. Our grief is too profound. We are too changed from the people we used to be.”
Weaver was the first to attack the college freshman after she passed the trio while staring down at her phone. He ran up behind her and kicked her hard in the back. A tussle ensued and Majors bit Weaver, then yelled for help.
That’s when Lewis allegedly held her in a headlock, and Weaver repeatedly stabbed her, piercing her heart, and sending the feathers of her down coat into the air.
Lewis pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder and first-degree robbery.
“The murder of Tessa Majors tore at the fabric of this entire city,” said Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Robert Mandelbaum.
The judge pointed to Lewis’ poor track record in jail — including possessing contraband and participating in a violent slashing of another inmate for taking a blanket that he wanted.
“Sadly and troubling, the defendant has learned no lesson,” Mandelbaum said before handing down the hefty term — the maximum for his age.
Bogdanos played a short video that showed the aftermath of the trio’s handiwork. Majors is shown stumbling toward a lamppost and collapsing on the ground, where she died.
Lewis’ defense lawyer requested the minimum before turning the floor over to her client.
“As a human, I feel ashamed, embarrassed and sad,” Lewis, slumped in his chair, told the court, without looking at Majors’ father. “I am not the monster you once thought I was.”
The teen saved his final words for his own father, who was also present.
“Dad, I am sorry I failed you,” he said. “I promise I will make you proud again.”
Davis, who was charged as a juvenile delinquent, was the first defendant to plead guilty in the case. He copped to one count of first-degree robbery in 2020 and was sentenced to 18 months in detention.
Weaver is awaiting trial.
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