Young Adult Sentenced in Omarion McKenzie Death

20-Year-Old Gets 20 Year Sentence

Jahliv Niles, the Peekskill man who fatally stabbed Omarion McKenzie in 2020 and subsequently attacked a fellow detainee at Westchester County Jail, was sentenced on September 2 to 20 years in state prison, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah said.

The 20 year sentence for Niles comes with five-years post-release supervision. He was also sentenced to two years in prison with three-years post-release supervision for attacking a fellow detainee at Westchester County Jail in Valhalla.

Niles pled guilty on May 11, 2021, to Manslaughter in the First Degree and Assault in the Second Degree, both felonies. Both sentences will be served concurrently.

On March 27, 2020, at approximately 11:15 a.m., Niles, who was 18 at the time, approached McKenzie on Howard Street  and fatally stabbed him in the chest, stomach and back. McKenzie was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital in Cortlandt Manor where he was pronounced dead. Niles fled the scene, but was identified and arrested by Peekskill police following their investigation. The Westchester County Department of Public Safety assisted in the investigation.

On May 19, 2020, Niles attacked a fellow detainee at Westchester County Jail, where he had been held since his arrest following the Peekskill incident.

“Family and friends of Omarion McKenzie have been forced to mourn a life that was tragically cut short due to a senseless act of cruelty,” DA Rocah said. “This sentence will bring some measure of closure and justice to them and to the Peekskill community.”

The case was before Judge Barry Warhit in Westchester County Court and was prosecuted by Cold Case Bureau Chief Laura Murphy and Assistant District Attorney Brian Bendish. Niles was represented by Rachel Filasto.