WHITE PLAINS, NY — A Westchester County Grand Jury has indicted Z’inah Brown for the January stabbing death of another New Rochelle High School student, 16-year-old Valeree Schwab.
Brown has been indicted on one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-1 felony, Manslaughter in the First Degree, a class B felony and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor.
Brown, 17, has been indicted with two co-defendants, Dominique Slack, 17, and Carl Booker, 17, on charges of Gang Assault in the Second Degree, a class C felony, Stalking in the First Degree, a class D felony, and Stalking in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor. Slack and Booker, additionally, have been charged with Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor.
Slack and Booker were arraigned today Westchester County court. Slack has been remanded to county jail without bail. Booker has been released on $25,000 bail. Both are scheduled to return to court April 17. 2018. Brown’s arraignment is pending.
This according to a statement today by Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr.
On February 20, 2018, New Rochelle Police arrested a 15 year-old juvenile related to the Valaree Schwab homicide. The suspect was charged as a juvenile with Hindering Prosecution and Tampering With Physical Evidence. His name was withheld by police due to his age. As a juvenile his case will be adjudicated in Family Court.
On Jan. 10, 2018, prosecutors allege, a group of New Rochelle teenagers engaged in a course of conduct directed against Valeree 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 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, 646 North Avenue, to try to get back her keys and was stabbed by Brown. Schwab was pronounced dead later that day at Jacobi Medical Center, the Bronx. All of the teenagers were students at New Rochelle High School.
Assistant District Attorney Laura Murphy and Assistant District Attorney Nicholas DiCostanza are prosecuting the case.