NYC Man Turned Himself in for the Murder of Twin Sister Who Rejected His Advances at a Brooklyn Store

Samyia Spain/Instagram

Veo Kelly, 20, turned himself in to authorities to face charges for the stabbing death of 19-year-old Samyia Spain. The stabbing happened after Samyia and her twin sister Sanyia rejected his advances at the Slope Natural Plus store in Brooklyn early Sunday morning. He stabbed both sisters, yet Samyia didn't survive her injuries. 

Veo Kelly. Screenshot from the crime scene prior to the incident

Kelly and the Spain twins were not acquainted prior to the fateful night. According to NBC News, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told WNBC, "This guy came out of a party hole down the street, got very aggressive with one of the girls trying to get some contact information. "When they didn't take to his advances, it got verbal. Then it got physical."

According to the New York Post, "Last Sunday, the Spain twins, their brother, and at least one friend had been taking a break from a family game night to head to the deli and noticed someone following Samyia," the surviving teen told the New York Daily News. Sanyina explained, "I grabbed her phone, and I was like, 'Come with me, come with me,'" Sanyia Spain said. "I was like, 'Why are you talking to that boy?' She said, 'I don't want to talk to that boy." Things quickly got out of hand. Saniya said, "He pushed little Samyia, and then I pushed him." "And then everybody else started pushing him out the door. A store worker kicked Kelly out, but allowed the twins to stay. Sanyia continued, "When we were done waiting for our food, he let us out of the store." "After he let us out the store, he had locked the door behind us." Once outside, Sanyia spotted the man and two of his friends, who then had a knife, and they ran up on the siblings. "He had a knife in his hand and was saying, 'I'm gonna stab y'all in the face,'" Sanyia said. "I'm telling everyone to back up. And he pushed little Samyia to the ground. The twins' older brother reportedly stepped in and punched Kelly, knocking him to the ground. "As I was going to grab [Samyia's phone], he stabbed me in my arm," Sanyia said of the knife-wielding attacker. "Samyia then asked him to give her the phone back, and he stabbed her in the neck," according to her statements to the NYDN."

According to NBC News, the store owner, Mohammed Albhar, was shocked by the tragedy. Mohammed was not there at the time of the stabbing but heard about it from his workers the following day. "His colleagues told him that the girls took refuge inside the store as the man yelled at them and kicked the door from outside." "I watched them grow up," said Albhar. "I know their father and mother. [Samyia] was friendly — a good girl."

YouTube Screenshot

Police charged Kelly with murder, assault, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. The suspect reportedly has a history of violence against women. According to the New York Post, He has at least two prior arrests, one from July 2023 when he was accused of attacking and tasering his 18-year-old ex-girlfriend at the Pier 25 Marina in Lower Manhattan, according to police sources and prosecutors. That situation resulted in him being charged with second-degree robbery and second-degree attempted gang assault, according to the NYP. 

Kelly was met with rage by the Spain family and friends while being escorted outside of the precinct. One person cried, "You gonna rot in jail, you ain't making it!" Someone asked, "What would happen if someone did that to your sister?" Prosecutors requested that he be held on $20,000 bail, but Judge John Zhuo Wang granted supervised release with electronic monitoring, the Manhattan DA's Office said. (Story continues after the video)

https://youtu.be/Xc9eToOHnlY?si=a-g5Zk7-lkW531-E

The Spain family has set up a GoFundMe for Samyia's memorial. The community is paying homage to her and has held a vigil outside the storefront. Her 20th birthday would have been in April. 

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