Former RKA student pleads 'not guilty' in attack

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Noah Zayas, the main suspect in a violent October robbery and assault against two students at the David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy (RKA, M.S./H.S. 141), pleaded not guilty to all 12 counts against him during an arraignment hearing at Bronx Criminal Court on April 1.

The Bronx District Attorney charged Mr. Zayas, 18, with four counts of second-degree robbery, two counts of third-degree assault and other crimes. 

At about 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 24, Mr. Zayas and three other unidentified males allegedly attacked a 13-year-old and his friend at the corner of Independence Avenue and West 236th Street while the boys were on their way to a Halloween dance at RKA. Mr. Zayas, who graduated from the school in June 2013, is accused of beating the 13-year-old so badly that he vomited and urinated blood.

The mother of the 13-year-old victim, who declined to give her name, previously told The Press the incident began when Mr. Zayas and the three other suspects ran up behind her son and his friend and began beating them. After that, the mother said Mr. Zayas lifted her son and threw him to the ground. Mr. Zayas allegedly proceeded to take about $16 and a Samsung Galaxy 3 cell phone from him.

According to the criminal complaint against Mr. Zayas, the suspects threw the other victim to the ground and struck him along his body. Mr. Zayas then allegedly grabbed a cell phone from his pocket and took a satchel containing a camera.

During the assault, a parent who witnessed the altercation from a short distance away called 911, according to the mother. Before authorities arrived, the alleged perpetrators fled inside RKA, she said. 

When approached outside of RKA on Monday, two crossing guards and a school employee denied any knowledge of the incident.

David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy, Noah Zayas, Ashley Helms