WASHINGTON — Eighteen-year-old Kyla Jones told police she stabbed another teen, 17-year-old Kaelia Minor, after Minor snatched her cellphone during an argument on a Metrobus.
According to an affidavit in support of an arrest warrant, Jones told detectives she had fought previously with Minor, and that she had a steak knife on her lap because she feared Minor.
Jones allegedly stabbed Minor in the chest after getting off a Metrobus at Kansas Avenue and Emerson Street, Northwest, D.C. police said.
Jones is charged with second-degree murder, while armed.
Witnesses said the teenagers began fighting near the front of the bus after a loud argument. One witness saw Jones holding a knife during the initial argument.
According to one witness, Minor grabbed Jones’ phone from the bus seat and ran off the bus, with Jones following.
According to witnesses, as the two exchanged punches, Jones was still holding the steak knife.
Jones told police she didn’t realize she had stabbed Minor, and didn’t feel she was seriously injured.
Another witness described seeing Jones circle Minor, who was lying on the ground.
“I don’t give a (expeletive) what happens to her. I don’t give a (expletive) if I stabbed her. I want my (expletive) phone,” Jones said, according to a witness.
When Jones found her phone, she left the scene, and took an Uber to meet a friend in Southwest, D.C., and smoke some marijuana, Jones told police.
While in Southwest, Jones learned by phone that Minor had died.
According to the affidavit, “She called her parents because she wanted them to accompany her to the police station to turn herself in.”
Jones was held without bond after her first appearance in D.C. Superior Court, Wednesday afternoon.
