The woman indicted in the fatal stabbing of a 22-year-old in Manhattan last month was arraigned last Monday on a charge of second-degree murder during a contentious hearing in which the families of both the victim and the suspect got into a contentious argument that led to one relative being physically removed from the courtroom.
According to a June 8 statement from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, 22-year-old Samaria Lopez was indicted on one count of second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of Jordin Walston, 22, on June 11.
The attack occurred at about 10:15 p.m. near West 40th and 8th Avenue in Midtown when Lopez allegedly approached Walston and started an unprovoked physical altercation.
Lopez allegedly punched Walston before taking out a knife and stabbing her in the chest, puncturing her aorta. Walston was taken to Bellevue Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
Following the attack, Lopez fled the scene and was taken into custody three days later, according to court records.
Before last Monday’s hearing even began, court officials had to separate members of the Lopez and Walston families after an argument ensued over seating. The argument devolved into a shouting match that grew even more contentious after Lopez entered the courtroom and flashed a large smile.
The smile further enraged one of Walston’s family members who had to be forcibly removed from the court. Even as she was being dragged from the courtroom, Walston’s relative continued to rail against the defendant for smiling.
Superior Court Judge Curtis Farber instructed the gallery that he would not tolerate that kind of behavior in his courtroom.
After Lopez’s arraignment, one of Walston’s relatives told the Lopez family that their daughter would “die by the same fate.”
Court officers were forced to separately escort the families out of the courtroom.
Lopez is scheduled to return to court on October 22.
