{"id":260257,"date":"2026-05-06T06:18:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T06:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/260257\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T06:18:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T06:18:12","slug":"teen-who-admitted-to-stabbing-boyfriend-is-off-to-prison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/260257\/","title":{"rendered":"Teen who admitted to stabbing boyfriend is off to prison"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Nathalie<\/p>\n

Nathalie Jean, center, mother of victim Yahkeim \u2018Keimo\u2019 Lollar, and his father, left, watch a video in which their son was stabbed. They and other relatives were at the sentencing of Jahara Malik, not pictured, after she pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge for the fatal stabbing of Yahkeim, a beloved football player at Miami Northwestern Senior High. The sentencing was on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami. <\/p>\n

Alie Skowronski<\/p>\n

askowronski@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n

Nathalie Jean vividly remembers how ordinary Dec. 20, 2024, began. She and her daughter were putting up a Christmas tree when her son Yahkeim Lollar, 17, walked into the room and joked about the pink tree.<\/p>\n

As Mariah Carey\u2019s \u201cWe Belong Together\u201d started playing, Yahkeim sang at the top of his lungs, Jean said. She and her daughter sang along, as if they were Yahkeim\u2019s backup singers.<\/p>\n

In that moment, Jean couldn\u2019t imagine that just hours later, her son would be stabbed to death. And Jahara Malik, Yahkeim\u2019s on-again, off-again girlfriend, would be the reason why.<\/p>\n

Jean recounted the pain of choosing a casket for Yahkeim, affectionally known as \u201cKeimo\u201d \u2014 and seeing his body when he was transferred to the funeral home from the medical examiner\u2019s office. Now, during both mundane and special times, she finds herself thinking, \u201cI wish Keimo was here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Nathalie Nathalie Jean visits her son\u2019s grave just months after his passing after getting off the night shift on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at Southern Memorial Park in North Miami, Fla. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n

\u201cThat night Jahara took my son\u2019s life,\u201d Jean said in court. \u201cNobody could save my son. She gave my son a death sentence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jahara Malik, 18, was sentenced to 17 years in a Florida prison followed by five years of probation. While on probation, Malik will have to write a letter every Dec. 20 taking accountability for the killing.<\/p>\n

Malik cried as some of her sobbing family members embraced her following the sentencing. In March, Malik pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge. Yahkeim was a beloved football player and junior at Miami Northwestern Senior High.<\/p>\n

\"Jahara Jahara Malik, now 18, center, is hugged by her family while a corrections officer puts handcuffs on her after she is sentenced to 17 years in prison, after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Yahkeim Lollar previously, in court Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in downtown Miami, Fla. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n

Dozens of Yahkeim\u2019s family members, classmates and friends packed the courtroom, some wearing shirts bearing photos of Yahkeim. They sat quietly after the sentence was meted out.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Ex-girlfriend of Northwestern football player stabbed to death says she did it<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cHis life was taken way too soon,\u201d said Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Christine Hernandez. \u201cYour youth does not excuse the foreseeable consequences of the decision you made… The choices that you made affected the trajectory of all of their lives, the trajectory of your life as well as your family\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jahara Jahara Malik, now 18, sits at her sentencing hearing in a courtroom filled with the victim\u2019s family after pleading guilty to a manslaughter charge for the fatal stabbing of Yahkeim Lollar, a beloved football player at Miami Northwestern Senior High. Malik was in court on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n

Wearing a black suit and tearing up, Malik admitted that she was at fault for Yahkeim\u2019s death, saying she was reckless. She said she reflects daily on the damage that she caused \u2014 and said she feels like she is in her \u201cown prison for the rest of her life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m here to accept my consequences for what I had done,\u201d Malik said. \u201cI loved your son so much, and I never wanted this to happen to him… He was a good person and definitely should have been here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Friends Friends of Yahkeim Lollar, a beloved football player at Miami Northwestern Senior High, look to sit in a courtroom packed with his friends and family during the sentencing of Jahara Malik, now 18, after she pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge for fatally stabbing him. The sentencing was on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n

After the sentencing, Jean sang \u201cVictory is Mine\u201d as she walked down the courthouse hallway. She told reporters the family is glad Malik was held accountable and is looking forward to putting the criminal case behind them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad today my son can finally rest in peace knowing that justice was served,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Malik\u2019s attorneys had requested that Malik be sentenced as a youthful offender to Miami-Dade Corrections\u2019 boot-camp program, which is available for people between 14 and 24 years old and focuses on rehabilitation through military-style training. Prosecutors asked the judge to impose a 20-year prison sentence followed by 10 years of probation.<\/p>\n

Malik, who was 17 at the time of the stabbing, was charged as an adult with manslaughter. Malik told police she and Yahkeim were \u201chorseplaying\u201d late one night in a garage of his Little Haiti apartment complex when she stabbed him.<\/p>\n

\"Miami Miami Northwestern Senior High student-athlete Yahkeim Lollar was stabbed to death in the garage of his apartment complex in December 2024. The Lollar family <\/p>\n

Prosecutors argued that Malik\u2019s manslaughter conviction is so serious that it didn\u2019t warrant a youthful-offender sentence. They pointed to Malik\u2019s \u201chistory of violent outburst[s].\u201d<\/p>\n

On at least three occasions, Malik broke Yahkeim\u2019s phone in a fit of rage. Once, before the stabbing, Malik chased Yahkeim with a knife during horseplay. And she had threatened an ex-boyfriend, telling him, \u201cI want blood,\u201d according to prosecutors.<\/p>\n

Malik\u2019s attorneys, however, highlighted how a psychologist believes Malik has PTSD, depression and anxiety \u2014 and determined the stabbing was an \u201cisolated incident rather than a reflective pattern of delinquency or aggression.\u201d<\/p>\n

A life \u2018stolen\u2019<\/p>\n

Yahkeim\u2019s aunt, Zelda Beecham, said she mourns her nephew daily. She said she is reminded of his kind smile at family gatherings \u2014 and whenever storm season approaches because he would always help her put up her hurricane shutters.<\/p>\n

Beecham was one at least 10 family members and friends who testified about the gifted student and talented wide receiver. They all urged the judge to sentence Malik to the maximum sentence \u2014 30 years \u2014 for the killing of the Yahkeim, an aspiring stockbroker with dreams of reaching the NFL.<\/p>\n

Beecham said she misses complimenting him on his fresh haircuts and giving him money to buy sweet treats and chicken wings, which were his favorite. But for Beecham, who was a police officer for three decades, Yahkeim\u2019s killing is the worst thing that she has experienced.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing has skewed my view of life like she has,\u201d Beecham said, shooting Malik a piercing stare.<\/p>\n

\"Nathalie Nathalie Jean, mother of victim Yahkeim \u2018Keimo\u2019 Lollar, second from the right, and his father, second from left, sit with family at the sentencing of Jahara Malik, not pictured, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n

For Daveed Lollar Sr., processing his son\u2019s killing has been challenging, but the court case, he said, has compounded his grief. He said he doesn\u2019t understand why Malik wasn\u2019t charged with second-degree murder.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s more upsetting to me than anything,\u201d Lollar Sr. said. \u201cMy son is gone, he\u2019s not coming back. I don\u2019t like how this case has been handled. …I was robbed that night. He was taken from me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Darveed Darveed Lollar Sr, father of Yahkeim Lollar, gives his victim impact statement during the sentencing of Jahara Malik, after she previously pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge from the fatal stabbing of Yahkeim Lollar, a beloved football player at Miami Northwestern Senior High, in court Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in downtown Miami, Fla. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n

Darveed Lollar Jr., Yahkeim\u2019s brother, recalled how his brother was kind and a friend to all.<\/p>\n

\u201c[His] future was stolen from him and from all of us,\u201d Lollar Jr. said. \u201cMy brother will never graduate, have a career or have a family of his own.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Melba Melba Pearson, the Lollar family attorney, right, hugs Nathalie Jean, the mother of Yahkeim Lollar, left, after Jahara Malik, now 18, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for the death of her son in court Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in downtown Miami, Fla. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n

Surrounded by a group of Yahkeim\u2019s friends and reading a letter on their behalf, Cierra Harrell said time stopped the day the student-athlete was killed. Their letter addressed Malik directly.<\/p>\n

\"Friends Friends of Yahkeim Lollar, a beloved football player at Miami Northwestern Senior High, left, give their victim impact statement during the sentencing of Jahara Malik, right, after she previously pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge from the fatal stabbing of Lollar, in court Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in downtown Miami, Fla. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone who should be here isn\u2019t because of your actions. That is the truth,\u201d Harrell said, reading the letter. \u201cThe people who love Keimo have to carry [the weight] of what you did every single day. Our friend should be here. He should be living, growing older, graduating, going to prom.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fatal stabbing<\/p>\n

Just after 11 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2024, Malik called 911 saying Yahkeim had been stabbed in the third-floor garage of his apartment complex at Northwest Sixth Court and 61st Street. Paramedics found him with a knife wound to his chest.<\/p>\n

Yahkeim died an hour later despite efforts by paramedics and medical professionals.<\/p>\n

While on the stand on Tuesday, Miami Police Sgt. Juan Santos removed the knife, which appeared to be a small kitchen knife, from a sealed evidence packet. That weapon, he said, pierced through Yakheim\u2019s hoodie and lodged into his heart.<\/p>\n

\"A A tear rolls down the cheek of Nathalie Jean, mother of victim Yahkeim \u2018Keimo\u2019 Lollar, at the sentencing hearing of Jahara Malik, not pictured, on ourt Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n

Several of Yakheim\u2019s loved ones sobbed \u2014 and rushed out of the courtroom \u2014 when a 911 call, surveillance footage and photographs were shown during Santos\u2019 testimony. The video showed Malik and a friend getting out of a vehicle in the parking garage, Yahkeim bleeding from his chest and Malik dropping a knife, according to police.<\/p>\n

At the scene, Malik told officers that Yakheim bumped into her and walked into the knife as they were play-fighting. But the nature of Yakheim\u2019s injuries indicated that wasn\u2019t the case, Santos testified.<\/p>\n

\"Nathalie Nathalie Jean, mother of the victim, left, tries to find open seats for friends and family at the sentencing of Jahara Malik, right, after she pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge for the fatal stabbing of Jean\u2019s son, Yahkeim Lollar. The sentencing was held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n

Santos also said surveillance footage captured Yakheim saying, \u201cJahara, don\u2019t\u201d or \u201cJahara, stop\u201d before he was killed.<\/p>\n

Malik was arrested in January 2025 after the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner\u2019s Office ruled that Yahkeim\u2019s death was a homicide.<\/p>\n

\"Jahara Jahara Malik, now 18, sits with her defense team at her sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to a manslaughter charge for killing Yahkeim Lollar. The hearing was on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n

This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 7:15 PM.<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Grethel Aguila<\/a><\/p>\n

Miami Herald<\/p>\n

Grethel covers courts and the criminal justice system for the Miami Herald. She graduated from the University of Florida (Go Gators!), speaks Spanish and Arabic and loves animals, traveling, basketball and good storytelling. Grethel also attends law school part time.\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Nathalie Jean, center, mother of victim Yahkeim \u2018Keimo\u2019 Lollar, and his father, left, watch a video in which…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":260258,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[225,227,226],"class_list":["post-260257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-hialeah","tag-hialeah","tag-hialeah-headlines","tag-hialeah-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=260257"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260257\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/260258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=260257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=260257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=260257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}