Z'inah Brown, Accused Of Fatal New Rochelle Stabbing, Arraigned

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The 17-year-old New Rochelle High School student who has been accused of fatally stabbing another student was arraigned Tuesday, April 3. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. said that Z’inah Brown, 17, was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter, felonies, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, misdemeanor, for the January death of Valeree Schwab, 16, of New Rochelle.

Brown remains in jail and is due back in court April 17.

Brown was also charged along with two co-defendants — Dominique Slack, 17, and Carl Booker, 17 — on the following:

• Second-degree gang assault, a felony
• First-degree stalking, a felony
• Third-degree stalking, a misdemeanor

Slack and Booker have additionally been charged with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.

Prosecutors said, on Jan. 10, a group of New Rochelle teenagers directed their actions against Schwab and a 15-year-old New Rochelle High School student.

The gang of teens, including Brown, Booker and Slack, physically confronted and assaulted Schwab on North Avenue, resulting in a serious physical injury to the teen.

During the alleged assault, Schwab dropped her house keys and one of the teens picked them up.

Schwab followed the group to Dunkin' Donuts near the high school to try to get her keys back and was stabbed by Brown, police said.

Schwab was pronounced dead later that day at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx.

Police said all of the teenagers involved were students at New Rochelle High School.

Slack and Booker were arraigned Wednesday, March 28 in county court, authorities said. Slack was sent to county jail without bail. Booker was released on $25,000 bail. They are scheduled to return to court April 17.

Image via Shutterstock.