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Westchester County Assistant District Attorney Nicholas DiCostanzo announced the indictment of three teenagers for their roles in the fatal stabbing of Valaree Schwab, a 16-year-old junior at the high school.
According to police, officers responded to Dunkin' Donuts on North Avenue shortly after 12:20 p.m. on Jan. 10, where there were reports of a fight involving multiple high school-aged students. During the dispute, Schwab suffered two stab wounds to her torso from a steak knife. She was transported to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, but was pronounced dead there later in the afternoon.
Yonkers resident Z’inah Brown, also a student at the high school, surrendered herself to police in New Rochelle the day after the fatal stabbing. She is facing a second-degree murder charge.
On Wednesday, DiCostanzo announced that Brown has been indicted on charges that include felony counts of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor. Brown and two others - Dominique Slack, 17 and Carl Booker, 17 - were also charged with felony counts of gang assault, and first-degree stalking. The three were also charged with misdemeanor counts of third-degree stalking and third-degree assault.
According to DiCostanzo, "a gang of teens, including Brown, Booker and Slack, physically confronted and assaulted Schwab outside on North Avenue resulting in a serious physical injury to Schwab. At the time of the assault, Schwab dropped her house keys and one of the teens picked up the keys. Schwab then followed the group to Dunkin’ Donuts in an attempt to get her keys back when she was stabbed by Brown.
Each was arraigned in Westchester County Court on Wednesday afternoon. Slack was remanded to the Westchester County Jail in lieu of bail and Booker was released on $25,000 bail. Brown is currently pending. Each is due back in court on April 17 to answer the charges.
The fatal stabbing was following by several other violent incidents involving students, and the manhunt continues for a student involved in a stabbing on Jan 18, according to police.
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