Woman Stabbed 3 Chesco College Students, Killing 1: DA

LOWER OXFORD, PA — A Philadelphia woman was arrested on first-degree murder and related charges in the Feb. 16 fatal stabbing of a student and wounding of two other students after a fight broke out in a dormitory at Lincoln University, Lower Oxford Township.

Nydira Smith, 39, is accused of stabbing Jawine Evans , 21, and wounding Clifton Walker, 22, and Eric Dickerson, also 22, during a brawl after 9 p.m. Smith is the sister of a Lincoln University student involved in the fight, officials said.

Evans was pronounced dead at the scene. He died of a stab wound to the neck, according to an autopsy conducted at Chester County County Hospital.

Walker and Dickerson were taken to Christiana Hospital, Wilmington, where they were treated and released.

Smith is in Chester County Prison without bail awaiting an arraignment scheduled in March.

First-degree murders carries a sentence of life in prison.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said her office staff extends deep condolences to the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy.

She vowed to prosecute the defendant to the fullest extent of the law to bring justice to Evans’ family, the other victims and Lincoln University.

“This is a parent’s worst nightmare,” Ryan said. “This senseless and tragic incident is devastating to not only the families of the victims but the entire Lincoln University community – students, staff, and parents – who believed their college campus was a safe place.”

Marc Partee, chief of Lincoln University police department, said the university is thankful for the assistance provided by all of our area law enforcement partners in responding to this horrific incident.

“We are especially thankful for Chester County Detectives, who have seamlessly partnered with us from the onset of the tragedy to provide the necessary resources, direction, energy, and support to hold those responsible accountable for their actions,” Partee said.

The Case

According to the police complaint:

On Feb. 16, Lincoln University police were called to the Living and Learning Center at 9:14 p.m. for the report of a fight.

When police arrived, they found Jawine Evans in a grassy area outside the dormitory with a knife wound to the neck and two other victims with stab wounds.

EMS and paramedics from Oxford Fire Company responded to the scene, where they pronounced Evans dead. The other two victims were transported to Christiana Hospital where they were treated and released.

Chester County detectives learned that the stabbing occurred in the first-floor hallway of the learning center’s south wing, which had blood spattered on the floor, walls, and doorways. Bloody footprints led to the third floor, where one of the victims lived.

Investigators recovered a video that showed the altercation during which the stabbing happened.
In the video, Evans is heard yelling, “she stabbed me,” and clutching the right side of his neck.

The video also showed the defendant plunging a knife into Evans’ neck, after which Evans staggers backward with a traumatic arterial bleed from his neck.

The defendant is also seen making stabbing motions towards the surviving two victims. The video shows at least six more students in danger of being stabbed.

Investigators recovered security footage from Lincoln University that shows a maroon Infiniti registered to the defendant entering the campus at 9:07 p.m. – just before the stabbing – and leaving at 9:22 p.m.

The investigation also revealed the Infiniti traveling east in Upper Chichester Township at 10:05 p.m.

Philadelphia police located the Infiniti in the 7100-block of Ardleigh Street in Philadelphia on Feb. 17 and placed it under surveillance.

Later that day, a search warrant was issued and police found blood stained clothing consistent with the items the defendant was seen wearing on video during the murder.

Detectives recovered a set of knives from the defendant’s home that had one knife missing.

Medical paperwork from Chestnut Hill Hospital was recovered, indicating that the defendant sought treatment for a laceration to her hand.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Det. John DiBattista at 610-344-6866.