Family of Northwestern student athlete stabbed to death angry over trial delay
The family of the Northwestern student-athlete stabbed to death said Thursday they’re seeking a speedy trial — and want the teen’s on-again, off-again girlfriend held accountable in his killing.
Dozens of Yahkeim Lollar’s loved ones and classmates packed the courtroom to protest the delays in case, which stems from the 2024 stabbing death of Yahkeim Lollar, a beloved junior and football player at Miami Northwestern Senior High. He was 17.
Jahara Malik, then 17, was charged as an adult with manslaughter. Malik told police she and Yahkeim were “horseplaying” late one night in a garage of his Little Haiti apartment complex when she stabbed him a few days before Christmas in 2024.
Yahkeim’s family believes the stabbing stemmed from Malik being shunned by Yahkeim.
Attorney Melba Pearson, who is representing Yahkeim’s family, said the delays in the case are “unacceptable” — and Yahkeim’s family “will continue fighting for justice and for the appropriate closure of this case.”
READ MORE: Girl accused in stabbing death of Miami Northwestern student to remain under house arrest
“The family is more than ready, at this point, to see justice be served. The defendant is out living her best life as Yahkeim Lollar is not with us as he should be.”
Malik was released from jail on house arrest after posting a $50,000 bond.
Under Florida law, victims and their families have the right to a speedy trial free from unreasonable delays.
During the hearing, a prosecutor said Malik’s defense attorneys have only interviewed one witness and the defense team wants to try negotiating a plea deal in the case. Malik’s defense attorneys did not attend the hearing.
‘I’ll continue fighting’
Wearing a shirt with photos of her son, Nathalie Jean said that every day, she relives the horror of police officers telling her Yahkeim died. Yahkeim, she said, should be a high school senior looking forward to prom and attending college.
Exactly a year ago, Jean said she had to plead with prosecutors to charge Malik.
“I said it a year ago, and I’ll say it again today: I’ll continue fighting until I take my last breath,” Jean said. “And even if I take my last breath, I will haunt them and make sure my son gets justice because he deserves justice.”
Jean said she wants to understand why her son was killed.
“We know who did it. So what’s the hold-up?” Jean said. “What is the issue? My son needs to rest in peace knowing he got justice.”
READ MORE: Family of beloved Northwestern teen stabbed to death wants accused killer behind bars
“We’re just ready for everything to be over,” said Yahkeim’s father Darveed Lollar.
Football player stabbed
Just after 11 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2024, Malik called 911 saying Yahkeim had been stabbed on 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.
Yahkeim died an hour later, despite efforts by paramedics and medical professionals.
Surveillance 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.
Malik told investigators that Yahkeim agreed to meet after she went shopping at Dadeland Mall with a friend. She said she grabbed the knife because she couldn’t find the pepper spray she usually takes as a safety measure when using a ride share.
The teen girl said “she was horse playing with the victim,” and police let her go. They arrested her in January 2025, after the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Yahkeim’s death a homicide. The next hearing in the case is set for Feb. 9.
This story was originally published January 22, 2026 at 1:06 PM.
