Woman Held In Fatal Stabbing Of Lincoln University Student

WEST CHESTER, PA — A Philadelphia woman was held for court today on first-degree murder and related charges in the Feb.16 fatal stabbing of a student and wounding of two others after a fight broke out in a dormitory at Lincoln University, Lower Oxford Township.

Nydira Smith, 39, was returned to Chester County Prison without bail following a hearing before District Judge Scott A. Massey in the Chester County Justice Center here.

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

Smith 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 a sister of a student at Lincoln University who was involved in the fight with all three students stabbed.

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

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

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.

How does a visitor get on campus?

Marc Partee, chief of Lincoln University police department, said that the university required guests to display indentification before entering.
He said visitors who are related to the students are allowed on campus.
Partee said the university is conducting a comprehensive review of its security system.

According to police:

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.

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 the fight and the stabbings

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.

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 Twp. at 10:05 p.m.

Philadelphia police located the Infiniti in the 7100-block of Ardleigh Street in Philadelphia on Feb. 17, 2022, and placed it under surveillance.

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.