MIAMI — A 17-year-old boy is dead after his family says his ex-girlfriend fatally stabbed him Friday night, just days before the holidays. The tragic incident has left the community reeling, as loved ones struggle to comprehend the loss of Yahkeim Lollar, a teenager with big dreams and a bright future.
On Sunday evening, about 100 people gathered outside the apartment complex where Lollar was attacked to hold a vigil in his honor. His mother, heartbroken and grieving, spoke to the crowd, sharing the overwhelming pain of losing her son.
“God took him away. I know everybody, even me, asks him ‘why?’ but we can’t question God,” she said.
The Night of the Stabbing
The events unfolded late Friday night when Miami police responded to a stabbing call at an apartment complex near 6101 NW 6th Ct. When officers arrived, they found the 17-year-old girl involved in the incident, who was taken to the Miami Police Homicide office for questioning. Lollar, who was found severely injured, was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital but tragically died from his injuries.
While the girl is currently in police custody, no formal charges have been filed yet, and the details surrounding the stabbing remain under investigation. Authorities have not yet clarified the motive, but the family said the two had been dealing with relationship issues.
Family Reacts to the Loss
Lollar’s family shared their heartbreak and confusion over the senseless violence. His aunt, Zeldrina Beecham, a deputy with the Miami-Dade Police Department, expressed the deep pain of losing a loved one, especially under such tragic circumstances. Beecham has responded to many calls during her career, but this one hit much closer to home.
“It’s totally different when you’re going out there handling calls every day, and you see other people going through it,” Beecham said, fighting back tears. “It’s just indescribable. Especially a cherished family member like him.”
Lollar’s family said he was a senior at Miami Northwestern High School, where he played as a running back on the football team. He had dreams of one day becoming a stockbroker. His aunt described him as a good kid who loved to have fun and always spent time with his family.
“He was the type of kid who always wanted to have fun, always wanted to be with family,” Beecham said. “We taught him to stay out of the streets, keep his head on right, and he did exactly that, and still, this happened.”
Lollar’s family has been left to cope with the loss just days before Christmas, a time they should have been celebrating together. Instead, they are now focused on planning his funeral.
A Community in Shock
As the investigation continues, the Miami community is mourning the loss of a young life cut short by violence. Lollar’s family and friends are left to grapple with the pain of what could have been a simple disagreement turned deadly. Loved ones are asking the painful question: What could have been said during a phone call that would lead someone to take another person’s life?
Lollar’s family hopes that as the investigation unfolds, answers will bring them some sense of peace and justice for Yahkeim, a boy who had so much to offer and so much life ahead of him.
