Police say they have arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection to the brutal 2024 Lower Manhattan slaying of a migrant teen.
According to police sources, 17-year-old Yeremi Colino was stabbed to death on Dec. 5, 2024, outside of 17 John St. in the Financial District. The deadly altercation originally appeared to be a hate crime but was later deemed to be gang-related beef.
The 17-year-old suspected killer, who cops are not naming due to his young age, was charged in the 1st Precinct on March 26 with murder, gang assault, and assault. He joins another 16-year-old arrested back in December for gang assault.
While Colino died as a result of his injuries, he was not the only one injured in the bloody brawl. An 18-year-old also suffered a stab wound to the left arm; he was treated at Bellevue Hospital.
Police believe the melee began after members of one group of teens flashed gang signs at the other.
“Both sides had weapons; the victim (Colino) actually swings an unknown object in a downward motion just prior to being stabbed by one of the perpetrators,” NYPD Assistant Chief of Detectives Jason Savino said in the days following the killing.
A Walgreens employee attempted to aid Colino by pulling him into the store with the knife still embedded in his chest, but his injuries were too severe.
“The Los Diablos crew of 42nd Street did vow revenge on this,” Savino added. “So, there is a little bit of a gang beef, and that obviously plays towards motive as well.”
A 23-year-old witness said he saw the aftermath of the battle.
“I saw it like 20 seconds after it happened,” 23-year-old Javier Pau said. “I’m pretty sure they were stabbing and walking, like on the way here, and then next thing I know, I saw the kid, and he was covered in blood.”
