Ashlyann M. Lopez-Lopez

OBSERVER Staff Report

The person wanted in connection to the May 15 stabbing of a 15-year-old Dunkirk girl is now in police custody.

Ashlyann M. Lopez-Lopez, 26, was taken into custody Wednesday by City of Dunkirk Police around 5 p.m. on a warrant that was issued by City Court Judge John Kuzdale.

Lopez-Lopez was charged with first-degree manslaughter following an investigation into the stabbing death of 15-year-old Jefrena Brown.

According to information gathered over the last two weeks, a fight broke out in view of an estimated 50 bystanders on the 100-block of Lincoln Avenue, allegedly involving Brown and Lopez-Lopez, leading to a stab wound that proved fatal; Brown died at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo the following day.

The arrest comes three days after the OBSERVER reported that a warrant for Lopez-Lopez was issued. The incident has left the city of Dunkirk and surrounding community shaken. Rage and sadness blanketed social media as tid-bits of information crept its way into various news sources.

Dunkirk Schools also felt the blowback of the occurrence. At least four police cars were seen patrolling the high school during dismissal on May 16, while counselors and staff were on hand to help students through the ordeal.

A discussion by the OBSERVER with the girl’s family on May 17, told of frustrations family members felt with city police, noting “they let the person who was responsible for the death get away.”

They were also critical of onlookers who spent their time videotaping the fight.

“It’s very upsetting,” the family said, “but everyone (who is not talking) is able to post videos. We need justice to be served.”

On May 22 Dunkirk Teachers’ Association President Valarie Csont, appeared at the Board of Education’s workshop to discuss the organization’s concern over a ‘safe school district.’

Csont shared how on May 15, she had sent “children home to a crime scene.”

“While I understand and realize that this did not happen on school grounds it does affect our schools immensely,” Csont had stated. “The safety of our children and our staff is so important. I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to forgive myself for allowing that to happen, but it was out of my control.”

Lopez-Lopez was arraigned in City Court by Judge Kuzdale with her bail set at $500,000/$1,000,000. She was taken to the Chautauqua County Jail pending further proceedings.

Her arrest comes on the same day as Brown’s memorial service, which was held at American Legion Post No. 62 on Central Avenue in Dunkirk.