New York high school football player 'chokes man to death after seeing him beat mother'

A high school football player choked his mother's ex-boyfriend to death after seeing him beat her inside their New York City apartment, police have said. Luis Moux, 18, was in his bedroom at the Bronx property early Monday morning (14 August) when he heard his 37-year-old mother, Lorena Sesma, arguing with her former partner in the hallway.

The 43-year-old man, Stanley Washington, then allegedly began beating the woman, causing her to briefly lose consciousness. Moux, an offensive lineman for his Grand Street Campus High School football team, rushed to his mother's defence, the New York Daily News reported.

The two men became involved in a struggle, with the teen wrapping his arm around Washington's neck. Sesma awoke to find her son standing over Washington's body. Police were called to the University Avenue building and Moux was taken into custody and charged with manslaughter. Police are investigating whether the attack was self-defence.

"It's not crystal clear," a police source told the New York Daily News. "It's not cut and dry. There was a battle going on back and forth. It could be self-defence, but that hasn't been decided yet."

A neighbour, Angel Nives, 65, described Moux as a nice teenager. "He's a school kid, a good student not involved with drugs or hanging out with bad people," Nives said. "He loves playing basketball and football with his friends over in the next building. When I heard the news, I didn't expect it to be him, but he was right to defend his mother."

The dead man has 26 prior arrests, two for domestic violence against the teenager's mother, sources told WPIX News.