Jennira Roundtree: 43-Year-Old Mother Stabbed To Death in Staten Island Fight
Jennira "Queen" Roundtree, 43, was a beloved figure in her Staten Island neighborhood, known for her warm demeanor and dedication to community.
Friends recall her constant smile and her efforts to organize barbecues, aiming to provide local children with safe and enjoyable activities during the summer months. As a mother of four, these gatherings earned her the affectionate title of "auntie" among many.
Tragically, on the evening of January 7, 2025, Roundtree lost her life in the very space she had cultivated for communal safety. Upon discovering that one of her children was amidst a dispute involving approximately 20 women, she acted on her maternal instincts and rushed downstairs to intervene.
In the ensuing chaos, Roundtree was fatally stabbed outside the city-run apartment complex, sustaining wounds to her chest and stomach. Witnesses noted that an NYPD patrol car was already present at the scene when the attack occurred.
Despite immediate medical attention and transportation to Richmond University Medical Center, she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Authorities have since arrested 20-year-old Jasmin Thompson in connection with the incident. Thompson faces charges including second-degree murder, manslaughter, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon.
She has claimed self-defense, asserting that she did not stab Roundtree but picked up a bloody knife out of fear. The investigation remains active as officials work to piece together the events leading to this tragic loss.
Roundtree's friends and neighbors continue to mourn her passing, remembering her as a pillar of the community who tirelessly worked to create a better environment for the youth. Her legacy of kindness and community spirit leaves an indelible mark on all who knew her.
Jasmin Thompson, 25, surrendered to authorities at a Staten Island precinct, accompanied by her attorney, Mario Gallucci. Prior to turning herself in, Thompson appeared on a podcast where she addressed the incident, asserting her innocence.
She claimed that she picked up the knife after Jennira Roundtree had already been stabbed, stating, "The mom’s already on the floor. So how y’all saying I did it? I picked it up. I was scared for my life."
Attorney Mario Gallucci contended that media portrayals of the altercation were inaccurate. He alleged that earlier in the day, Roundtree and her associates had attacked Thompson's sister and another friend. Gallucci stated, "Roundtree and a group of her followers... had attacked Ms. Thompson’s sister earlier in the day and jumped another one of her friends earlier in the day."
He emphasized that Roundtree initiated and escalated the confrontation, and indicated that Thompson's defense would be based on justification.
Contrary accounts suggest that a group of individuals had confronted Roundtree's pre-teen daughter. Although friends of Roundtree contacted the girl's older sister for assistance, Roundtree intervened herself, leading to the fatal encounter.
At the victim’s funeral in Queens, New York, a fight reportedly broke out as the eulogy ended outside the church as tempers flared.
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