Yonkers Man Pleads Guilty To Theater Stabbing Death

YONKERS, NY — A Yonkers teenager has entered a plea in the stabbing of a movie theater employee in 2017. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced Friday that Michael Pettiford, 16, of Yonkers, pleaded guilty in the death of Daij Thomas at a Ridge Hill movie theater.

The charges Pettiford pleaded guilty to were one count of first-degree manslaughter and one count of first-degree robbery, both felonies.

On April 15, 2017, at approximately 12:44 a.m., Pettiford approached Thomas who was seated in the lobby of the Showcase Cinema de Lux Ridge Hill in Yonkers. Pettiford began to question the victim and then challenged him to a fight.

Thomas declined to fight, and Pettiford then grabbed his cellphone from his hand. Thomas then chased after Pettiford in an attempt to get his phone back. A struggle ensued during which time Thomas was stabbed once in the chest.

Pettiford placed the victim’s phone in his pocket and left the movie theater. Thomas collapsed to the floor indicating that he could not breathe. EMTs arrived on the scene and made efforts to save his life. He was taken to a local area hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Two knives were recovered at the scene.

On April 18, 2017, Yonkers detectives located Pettiford and he was placed under arrest at an apartment on Yonkers Avenue. A search warrant was obtained for that apartment and evidence was collected.

Pettiford faces up to 18 years in state prison when he is sentenced March 21.

Photo caption: Michael Pettiford. Photo credit: Westchester County District Attorney's Office.