Staten Island community members are mourning the loss of 43-year-old Jennira “Queen” Roundtree, a beloved mother of four who was fatally stabbed on January 7, 2025, while intervening in a dispute involving her children.
According to reports, Roundtree was attempting to de-escalate a fight outside her city-run apartment complex when she sustained fatal stab wounds to her chest and stomach.
Witnesses state that an NYPD patrol car was present at the scene during the altercation. Emergency responders transported her to Richmond University Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Authorities later arrested 20-year-old Jasmin Thompson, who now faces charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. Thompson has asserted a self-defense claim, maintaining that she did not stab Roundtree but merely picked up a bloody knife out of fear.
Conflicting Narratives and Legal Defense
Thompson, who surrendered to law enforcement accompanied by her attorney, Mario Gallucci, previously addressed the incident on a podcast, asserting her innocence.
“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,” she stated.
Gallucci contends that earlier that day, Roundtree and her associates allegedly attacked Thompson’s sister and another friend, escalating tensions.
“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,” Gallucci stated.
He further argued that Roundtree initiated the confrontation, reinforcing his client’s self-defense claim.
However, conflicting accounts suggest that a group had previously confronted Roundtree’s pre-teen daughter, prompting her intervention and leading to the fatal encounter.
Community Reaction and Funeral Tensions
Roundtree was widely respected for her commitment to the neighborhood, often organizing community barbecues and summer activities for local children. Her tragic passing has left friends and neighbors devastated.
Her funeral in Queens, New York, was marked by additional tensions, as a physical altercation reportedly broke out outside the church following the eulogy. The incident underscores the deep divisions and emotional toll left in the wake of Roundtree’s death.
The case remains under investigation as prosecutors and defense attorneys prepare for the legal battle ahead.
