The 18-year-old defendant—who was 17 at the time of the stabbings—was arraigned Tuesday, March 25, in the Youth Part of Westchester County Court before Judge Helen Blackwood in connection with the fatal stabbings, which happened on Thursday, Feb. 6 in Yonkers, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office announced on Tuesday, March 25.
The defendant, whose name has not been made public, pleaded not guilty to a five-count indictment that includes two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and one count of tampering with physical evidence. He remains remanded to the Westchester County Jail pending further court proceedings scheduled for Friday, May 9.
The charges stem from a violent altercation that took place around 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, at Mickey’s Pizzeria on Lake Avenue in Yonkers, as Daily Voice previously reported.
According to prosecutors, the defendant first stabbed 16-year-old Jayron Rivera of Yonkers inside the pizzeria, then stabbed 16-year-old Tyler King-Mellanson of Queens outside the restaurant as he was leaving. Both victims were rushed to area hospitals, where they were pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Police arrested the teen suspect the day after the attack, on Friday, February 7.
“These senseless killings must stop. Our children are our community’s greatest assets,” Westchester DA Susan Cacace said in a statement on Tuesday, adding, “Now there are two grieving families who will never know the men these young boys would have grown to become.”
“Our beloved Jayron was a kind, loving, young man whose life was tragically cut short due to senseless violence,” Rivera’s family wrote on a GoFundMe fundraiser page shortly after the incident, adding, “”He leaves behind his loving mother, three younger sisters, and a family who cherished him dearly, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.”
This continues to be a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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