Teen Receives Sentence In Peekskill Fatal Stabbing

PEEKSKILL, NY — The Peekskill teen who admitted he stabbed an 18-year-old to death over a social media dispute will be going to prison.

Matthew Torres, 18, of Peekskill, was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in state prison, with five years of post-release supervision, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah announced.

On Sept. 29, Torres pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault, both felonies, in the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Joaquin Salazar.

Rocah said the loss of Salazar was a tragedy and his life was taken far too early.

"Our hearts break for his family, loved ones and the entire Peekskill community," she said. "There must be accountability and we must also work together as a community to ensure that disputes amongst young people do not end with death."

Around 9:15 p.m. Nov. 28, 2020, several teens gathered at China Pier on Louisa Street in Peekskill to settle a dispute that began on social media.

Torres, who was 17 at the time, stabbed Salazar multiple times during the exchange.

Salazar, a Peekskill resident, was taken to Westchester Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

A second victim, who Torres stabbed one time, was also taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery.

The Peekskill Police Department, assisted by the New York State Police, investigated the incident and arrested Torres.