July 3, 2017 -- Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced today that Donte S. Pace (DOB 01/11/95) of 240 Franklin Ave., Mount Vernon, New York pled guilty on June 30, 2017 before Judge Barry Warhit to:

• one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree, a class “B”  Violent Felony

in the death of James D. Puryear.

On Oct. 18, 2016 at approximately 4:45 p.m., the victim was walking eastbound on Elm Street between Oak Street and Walnut Street. The defendant approached and stabbed the victim once in the chest in front of 179 Elm Street with a bladed instrument. The victim was unarmed.

He ran away from the defendant and across the street where he collapsed. A good Samaritan called 911. 

Police and EMT’s responded to the scene. The victim was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

An intensive investigation by the Yonkers Police Department resulted in the defendant’s arrest ten days later on October 28, 2016.

An examination by the Westchester County Medical Examiner’s Office revealed that the victim died from a stab wound to the chest which resulted in damage to the heart along with internal bleeding.

The defendant will be sentenced on Oct. 4, 2017.

He faces up to twenty-five years in state prison.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Nicholas DiCostanzo of the Superior Court Trial Division.

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Media contact: Robert Wolf
111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
White Plains, NY 10601
Tel: (914) 995-3586
Fax: (914) 995-2116