Philadelphia native Nydira Smith was charged for the fatal stabbing of a Lincoln University student on Feb. 16.
Smith, 39, stabbed Jawine Evans in the neck outside a dorm hall after a fight broke out. Police found three stabbing victims and Evans, 21, dead at the scene, according to FOX29.
Officials have obtained video footage of the incident showing Smith attacking the three young men. The criminal complaint points out Smith was wearing a light-colored sweatshirt, a yellow and black hat, and had a knife in her hand.
Police say in the video Smith can be seen “plunging the knife down from above her head a second time and into the right-side neck/chest area of Evans.” Smith stab two other Lincoln students, 22-year-old Eric Dickerson and 22-year-old Clifton Walker. Both were immediately taken to Christiana Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, for non-life-threatening injuries.
Chester County police learned Smith drove an hour and a half to defend her younger sister, a student at Lincoln University. Smith’s younger sister had fought the three victims, the NY Post reports.
“We believe it was premeditated. She took an hour and a half to drive from her home in West Mount Airy out to Lincoln University with a knife to join in a fight with the intent to kill,” Deb Ryan, Chester County District Attorney, said.
Ryan shares her condolences with the family and shares her concern for the lack of on-campus safety.
“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.”
According to Daily Local, Smith faces first and third-degree murder charges, aggravated assault, and possessing an instrument of a crime. Smith is currently at Chester County Prison without bail.
News of the on-campus murder has shocked the school. Lincoln University released a statement to ABC News sharing their regards for the family.
“We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred on campus last night. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We take the safety of our students seriously and are working with local authorities as there is an ongoing investigation. We have no further comment at this time.”
Evans was set to graduate this May. His parents shared their grief with a statement.
“My husband and I are devastated over the loss of our beloved son Jawine. We thought he would be safe on the campus of Lincoln University and never dreamed such a terrible thing could happen here,” Beverly Evans, Jawine’s mother, said. “We’re stunned at the lax security but extremely grateful to Chester County law enforcement for catching Jawine’s killer and for DA Ryan’s comments showing she is taking a strong public stand to bring his killer to justice.”