• Lifestyle

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 15, 2022

Toxic Energy: Kanye West Trolls Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson, Keeps Posting Ex’s Private Texts

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Kanye West’s unpredictable behavior has him in the tabloids and gossip pages as the combative billionaire has gone on the warpath with his estranged wife Kim Kardashian’s current beau, Saturday Night Live’s Pete Davidson.

The erratic musician and fashion stalwart has been sending and posting private, now-deleted texts between him and his ex-wife vowing to “be back together” even though Kardashian has carved out a new path to peace.

Although the eccentric producer is no longer claiming that he can’t see his kids, as evidenced through his daddy Super Bowl date night with his children, Ye seemingly has a new mission to make amends with matrimony.

Ye, who is known for going on social media posting sprees and then deleting the posts, has picked back up on that practice. According to a recent Instagram post, the “Heartless” rapper is seriously yearning to be back with Kardashian and their children.

Also, in a since-deleted Valentine’s Day Instagram post, Ye insists that he does not have beef with his estranged wife, and he does have “faith” that they will, once again, be together.

“I DON’T HAVE BEEF WITH KIM I LOVE MY FAMILY SO STOP THAT NARRATIVE. I’M NOT GIVING UP ON MY FAMILY…. I HAVE FAITH THAT WE’LL BE BACK TOGETHER”

Yahoo has reported that Ye had a truckload of roses delivered to Kardashian on Valentine’s Day.

“MY VISION IS KRYSTAL KLEAR”

But in the same vein, Ye launched a series of posts targeting Davidson, which has Kardashian concerned that Ye might cause one of his faithful followers to hurt the comedian.

Ye took aim at Davidson in several ways, including posting a picture and making unsolicited comments about his tattoo of former first lady Hillary Clinton with the caption:

“Y’all seen that tattoo, but if I speak up, then I’m crazy. I told you not going to use that one no more. When a garbage man goes to work, he gonna smell like trash. But it’s time to take the trash out the house,” he said.

He also posted a fight night poster of him and Pete Davidson, who he refers to as “Skete.”

He captioned the photo, “This ain’t about Skete [Pete], people. It’s about selling y’all a narrative. Skete just playing his part in Frozen 3 — except it’s not in the theaters. This time, it’s on Daily Mail. Tell Bob and the entire Disney staff you wasted your money on Star Wars and Marvel — because even though it makes money, you will never control the high schools.”

In a series of private texts, Kardashian pleaded with Ye to stop posting the exchanges, which he refused to do and continued to out her.

Many online, including best-selling author, speaker, and digital strategist Luvvie Ajayi called out Ye’s turbulent behavior as “abusive.”

“KANYE IS A PROBLEM. He has a HISTORY of this type of harassment against the women who walk away from him. He publicly disrespected Amber Rose too. And he faces ZERO consequences for his out of pocket behavior against the women who say “I’m done,” Ajayi wrote.

Ajayi continues: “We’re being entertained by Kanye’s antics but I feel for the mother who is watching her kids’ father melt down and using her as target practice. And for the woman who sees the whole world celebrating her tormentor.”

I feel for Kim. This public spectacle and ridicule from Kanye is so much.

The drama might be entertaining but can you imagine how she’s feeling that the father of her kids is doing all of this publicly? He’s relentless. It’s so embarrassing.

— Luvvie is the #ProfessionalTroublemaker (@Luvvie) February 14, 2022

Others are calling out Ye, and even though he has mental health issues, support for him has waned.

Kanye West is bullying a 20 yr old woman and stalking his estranged wife, stop making excuses for his foolery. He needs professional help.

— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) February 15, 2022

It has also been reported that Ye and actress Julia Fox are no longer an item but “remain good friends.”

Fox’s representative confirmed on Monday that the pair had gone their separate ways: “Julia and Kanye remain good friends and collaborators, but they are no longer together.”

In a now-deleted Instagram post, Fox also posted that she and West are “on good terms.”

“I have love for him but I wasn’t in love w the man,” Fox wrote in the message.

• Business

by Derek Major

February 15, 2022

Bank Of Montreal Commits $78 Million In Financing To Black-Owned Businesses

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The Bank Of Montreal (BMO) has announced it will commit $78 million in financing to Black-owned businesses through a program called Business Within Reach.

According to a BMO release, under the program, Black business owners and entrepreneurs can receive loans of up $196,000. The bank is also partnering with the Black Opportunity Fund to provide financial education in planning, management, and marketing.

“Every business owner deserves access to the financial support they need for their business to make real financial progress, now and in the future,” Mike Bonner, Head, Canadian Business Banking, BMO Bank of Montreal, said in the release.

“Business Within Reach: BMO for Black Entrepreneurs increases access to capital and networks that break down barriers to inclusion. We are proud to be a catalyst for an inclusive recovery from a pandemic that has hit minority-owned businesses particularly hard.”

According to Bloomberg News, BMO has set targets of increasing the number of Black employees in senior leadership roles to 3.5% in Canada and 7% in the U.S. and boosting Black and Latino interns and entry-level employees to 30% in the U.S. and ensuring 40% of its student opportunities in Canada are directed toward BIPOC students.

“Black entrepreneurs face inequitable access to capital, which inhibits their ability to build and scale businesses,” Stanley Julien, Head, Special Accounts Management Unit – Canada, BMO Financial Group, said. “We believe this program’s funding and resources will enable Black business owners to expand operations and enhance the opportunity to participate in Canada’s economic growth.”

Other banks that have pledged millions to Black businesses and financial programs include Citi, Wells Fargo, and JPMorgan Chase. Many banks pledged to help Black businesses in the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter movement and conversations around social equity in 2020.

In addition to loans and financial education courses, the banks are also offering HBCU financial literacy programs, scholarships, and internships.

• Travel and Leisure

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 15, 2022

Meet Camp Yoshi, The Experiential Brand Creating Unique Outdoor Adventures for People of Color

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After nearly two years of dealing with pandemic-led lockdowns and restrictions, one company aims to get people back outside.

Meet Camp Yoshi, a Black-owned outdoor company that seamlessly combines gourmet cooking with innovative wilderness experiences for Black people and their allies.

Founded in late 2020 in Portland by Rashad Frazier, his wife Shequeita, and brother Ron, the trio came together out of the desire to allow the Black community to safely explore some of the most beautiful and remote locations in the U.S. through an immersive shared experience.

“Our mission is to help diversify the outdoor space by establishing community there,” Rashad Frazier, Co-Founder, Camp Yoshi told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“We create safe spaces for POC, allies, first-time campers, and enthusiasts alike by curating trips that allow them to explore camping and enjoyment of the outdoors through CY’s unique lens.”

Camp Yoshi was created when the world was battling a global pandemic, and racial injustice issues were coming to the forefront. The camping excursions include up to 12 guests in various sites across the Pacific Northwest and Southwest.

With 22 trips currently planned in 2022, Camp Yoshi is gaining steam as more people look for new ways to get back outdoors.

“During the pandemic, we felt that others from our community needed to have the confidence to explore these spaces because of the healing that comes from nature and being able to unplug,” Frazier said.

“So Camp Yoshi was inspired by that need and rather than tell people we thought it better to show them.”

It was after meeting for a trip to Montana’s Glacier National Park in mid-2020 when the founders realized just how profound these trips had been in their lives and wanted their friends and family to experience the same.

With the coronavirus pandemic looming on, Camp Yoshi has had to plan their excursions around the different restrictions and mandates each U.S. city follows.

“We are constantly monitoring travel mandates and limitations as the pandemic persists,” Frazier said. “It is always our plan to be as flexible as needed to maintain the quality of our trips, while prioritizing the health of our campers and crew members.”

“As stated before, we always require our campers to present negative COVID test results within at least 72 hours beforehand. We’re going to locations that are about as remote as it gets, so having space and being able to enjoy it is a core part of what we do.”

With 22 trips planned for 2022, Camp Yoshi is excited to introduce its immersive experiences to new and returning travelers.

“One of our biggest priorities this year is making Camp Yoshi more accessible to people with varying lifestyles and leisure budgets,” Frazier said.

“Our Field Trips will be much more affordable local day-trips with chef-prepared lunch provided, Basecamp experiences will be multi-day camping for the DIY camper, and our Gift of Adventure is a continuous fundraiser that we established to give a free trip to select campers who are unable to go otherwise.”

• Lifestyle

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 15, 2022

8 Babies and All: Nick Cannon Admits to Wanting Ex-Wife Mariah Carey Back on Latest Song ‘Alone’

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Multi-talented entertainer Nick Cannon has been in the news a lot lately due to his penchant for impregnating women with another child on the way.

With the release of a new song on St. Valentine’s Day, it’s apparent that he hasn’t yet found love as he sings about wanting his ex-wife Mariah Carey back in the tune.

Cannon posted a clip of the new song on his Instagram page in which he clamors for love stating in the song that he is Alone.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

February 15, 2022

Design Your Own Website Without Having To Know How To Code

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Whether you have an e-commerce business that you’re looking to enhance or if you’re a brick-and-mortar business owner who would like to reach a broader audience, you more than likely need a website. While more access is available today to create a website, one usually has to have some knowledge of how to code to do so. Coding is popular, but learning how to do it can be a time-consuming venture.

If you fall in the camp of someone who needs a website but hasn’t yet learned how to code, then The Complete Blocs Website Builder Bundle is just what you need. For a limited time, it’s available for $49.99. That’s a savings of 70% from its MSRP ($169).

With The Complete Blocs Website Builder Bundle, you’ll learn how to create responsive websites without writing code with Blocs 4.

Four programs are included in this bundle. The starter course, “Blocs 4” comes with all the features you need to create a robust, responsive website all while not having to use code. It works by the concept of stacking pre-built sections to create fully coded, responsive websites.

The “Site Search Add-On” program allows you to implement search functionality to your website. The program includes a site search bric, exclude page bric, and an external link bric. The “Page Transition Blocs Add-On” enables you to add stylistic and minimalistic page transitions to your website. It includes 10 transition styles, ranging from fade, shrink, and split. Finally, the “Image Overlay Blocs Add-on” makes it possible to create fast and easily customizable website cards.

“Good tool, fun to use. Great value to create quick, simple sites! I love the haptic feedback when creating on my laptop too. Something small but it makes it fun to design” writes verified 5-star purchaser, Anthony D.

A solid website has the potential to boost the profile of any business. Learn how to create one today without needing an understanding of coding. Purchase this bundle today for $49.99.

Prices subject to change.

• Lifestyle

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

February 14, 2022

‘My Sweet Valentine’: Tyrese’s Mother Has Died After A Battle With COVID-19 and Pneumonia

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Fast & Furious actor and singer Tyrese got heartbreaking news on Valentine’s Day that his mother Priscilla Murray has died.

According to an Instagram message, Tyrese told his 15 million fans his mom’s fate after battling COVID-19 and pneumonia, and other health complications, according to reports.

He posted this message:

“On behalf of my family and everyone who ever spent anytime praying tor my mother This is the saddest moment of my life………. My sweet Valentine just passed away…..” Tyrese wrote on a social media post, accompanied by a video of him holding his mother’s hand.

“May the lord Jesus Christ and his angels open the doors of heavens and embrace her………. We as a family are broken and just can’t believe this……. May the lord Jesus Christ honor your walk with him and embrace you into the heavens……. From here on I ask that you HOLD MY HAND MOTHER and never let my hand go………. Like you held my hand as a child and a teen never let my hand go mother…..”

 

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A post shared by TYRESE (@tyrese)

Netflix is releasing a documentary 21 years in the making on music and fashion icon Kanye West (now legally known as Ye) despite West’s demand via Instagram — rejected by the film’s directors, Coodie and Chike for final edit approval.

However, another acclaimed Chicagoan, child prodigy Dorothy Jean Tillman II, is reacting with surprise and disappointment not to the film, but its title, “Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy.”

Known as Dorothy Jeanius, the 15-year-old Founder and CEO of the Dorothyjeanius STEAM Leadership Institute, and doctoral candidate at Arizona State University believes the Netflix documentary’s title is uncomfortably similar to her nationally known nickname and personal brand, Jeanius, according to a release.

“While the filming of this documentary on Kanye West — who I am a huge fan of, especially as a fellow Chicagoan — began years before I was even born,” says Tillman, “the documentary was unnamed before Netflix acquired it last year. It’s extremely disappointing to think that Netflix either didn’t think about the similarity between jeen-yuhs and jeanius, or that they did and just didn’t care.”

Tillman, who will celebrate her 16th birthday on Mar. 18, is currently pursuing her doctorate in behavioral health at Arizona State University. Nicknamed Dorothy Jeanius since childhood, Tillman began attracting media attention in 2018 when, at the age of 12, she earned a bachelor’s degree in humanities from Excelsior College, after completing an associate’s degree in psychology at the College of Lake County at the age of 10.

Since going on to earn a master’s of science degree from Unity College in Unity, Maine, she has been featured in national media ranging from People and BLACK ENTERPRISE to The Kelly Clarkson Show for both her academic achievements and her leadership in STEAM education. She has also been recognized with numerous honors, awards and recognitions, including the 2021 BLACK ENTERPRISE 40 Under 40 (the youngest person on the list) and the 2018 Black Girls Rock — Who Rocks Next Award. She was also a featured contributor to Ebony: Covering Black America, a book commemorating 75 years of Ebony Magazine, authoring an essay on another prominent Chicagoan, former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Tillman says that the similarity between her personal brand and the Netflix documentary is potentially even more problematic because she and her mother Jimalita Tillman, the global director of Chicago’s Harold Washington Cultural Center, have spent the past several years capturing footage of the teen prodigy’s journey, with plans to produce their own documentary of her life, titled Jeanius, once she completes her doctoral program.

“It is hurtful and frustrating to me that a documentary about Kanye, a fellow Chicagoan and a personal inspiration to me, was titled in a way that so obviously disregards my personal brand, which I’ve earned and continue to work hard for,” says Tillman.

“However, ultimately, it’s me, a 15-year-old kid, against Netflix. The best I can do is to publicly register my disappointment and continue to make an impact, and represent and excel for myself and my brand. There are many forms of genius — especially in Chicago — and they all deserve their due; but in the end, there is only one Dorothy Jeanius.”

Café Momentum — an award-winning nonprofit restaurant that provides 12-month paid internships and life-changing support to young people exiting the juvenile justice system — teamed up with the Players Coalition, a nonprofit founded by NFL players Anquan Boldin and Malcolm Jenkins.

The restaurant is dedicated to making an impact on social justice and racial inequality, along with Stand Together Foundation, a philanthropic organization committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in America by driving change from within communities, to bring its innovative model to the Super Bowl.

The invite-only pop-up dinner and black-carpet event downtown at Rossoblu brought together athletes, including NFL Legend, Players Coalition Member and Stand Together Ambassador Shaun Alexander; Players Coalition Task Force Member and New Orleans Saints Linebacker Demario Davis; criminal justice reform advocates Alice Marie Johnson and Michael “Harry O” Harris; local lawmakers; and community partners to enjoy a three-course meal prepared and served by L.A. justice system-involved youth. Café Momentum partnered with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), which works to end mass incarceration in California and to empower formerly and currently incarcerated people to thrive, to give these local youth the opportunity to experience the transformative Café Momentum model.

Throughout the evening — emceed by former NFL linebacker and Stand Together Ambassador Dhani Jone — guests witnessed how the right care and support can empower justice-involved youth to become contributing members of society. Shaun Alexander delivered remarks along with Momentum Ambassadors, and leaders from Café Momentum and Stand Together Foundation, according to a press release.

Momentum Advisory Collective (M.A.C.) — the parent company driving Café Momentum’s national expansion with support from Stand Together Foundation — saw the Super Bowl as an exciting stage to build community support for opening a Café Momentum restaurant in Los Angeles by 2024.

“These young people should not be defined by their worst mistakes. We’re committed to providing them with support and opportunities to realize their full potential,” said Chad Houser, founder and CEO of Café Momentum and M.A.C.

“In supporting Café Momentum here at the Super Bowl, professional athletes are helping us show these youth that they matter. With committed partners like the Players Coalition and Stand Together Foundation, we are transforming lives and the way we think about juvenile justice in our country.”

This dinner is the latest collaboration between Café Momentum, Players Coalition, and Stand Together Foundation. The partners have hosted previous events with NFL athletes, including a pop-up dinner in Miami for Super Bowl LIV.

“Café Momentum shows what is possible when you put the right system of support around young people who have made mistakes early in life and believe in their potential,” said NFL Legend, Stand Together Ambassador, and Players Coalition Member Shaun Alexander.

“The NFL Family and Players Coalition have also embraced this transformational organization and we thank the Stand Together Foundation for how they are helping Café Momentum expand their important work across the country.”

“Players Coalition is proud to partner with Café Momentum and like-minded organizations to bring out the best in youth exiting the youth justice system,” said New Orleans Saints Linebacker and Players Coalition Task Force Member, Demario Davis.

“The future of these young men and women is important. They deserve equal access to opportunities that help them reach their full potential and by working hand-in-hand with the NFL to Inspire Change, Café Momentum, and Stand Together, we all hope to engage a conversation around youth justice and the potential for programs like these to transform young lives.”

“Stand Together is excited to be back at the Super Bowl with Players Coalition, NFL’s Inspire Change initiative, Café Momentum, and Momentum Advisory Collective. Once you experience Café Momentum and see what the young men and women coming out of juvenile detention are capable of, you can’t help but see how broken the current system is,” said Brian Hooks, CEO of Stand Together.

“They’re showing that rather than give up on people who’ve made mistakes, we can help empower them to contribute. And that’s the kind of idea that can transform the juvenile justice system to one that helps unleash the potential of hundreds of thousands of kids each year.”

“I’m always inspired by the incredible work that Stand Together Foundation does, including its support of Café Momentum,” said CEO of Taking Action for Good (TAG), criminal justice reform advocate, and Stand Together Ambassador, Alice Marie Johnson.

“Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders and the young people at Café Momentum are building a brighter future not just for themselves, but for our nation. I’m hopeful about the days to come and all that these young men and women can achieve.”

“My experience working at Café Momentum’s pop-up dinner with the Los Angeles Rams in 2019 changed my life. Being back here in L.A., my home, as a Momentum Ambassador with Players Coalition and Stand Together Foundation is a full-circle moment for me,” said Momentum Ambassador, Kenzo Sohoue. 

“I’m excited to help support and inspire the young people working at Café Momentum’s pop-up dinner this week and show them that the sky is the limit for their potential. I relate to them because I’ve been in their shoes. And, I believe in them.”

“My internship with Café Momentum five years ago was life-changing. The experience helped me discover a passion for the restaurant industry and a support system of people who truly care about me,” said Café Momentum Restaurant Associate and Momentum Ambassador, Jedarrian Jones.

“Café Momentum is more than a program — it’s my family. I’m proud to be here at the Super Bowl sharing what Café Momentum has done for me and what it can do to help others.”

Pop-up dinner attendees included:

— Momentum Ambassadors (former interns) and local L.A. justice system-involved youth

— Chad Houser, Renowned Chef, CEO and Founder of Café Momentum, and CEO of M.A.C.

— Shaun Alexander, NFL Legend, Stand Together Ambassador, Players Coalition Member

— Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints Linebacker and Players Coalition Task Force Member

— Dhani Jones, Former NFL Linebacker, Stand Together Ambassador, and Emcee for the evening

— Alice Marie Johnson, CEO of Taking Action for Good (TAG), Criminal Justice Reform Advocate and Stand Together Ambassador

— Michael “Harry O” Harris, Founder of Godfather Entertainment, GF Music and Death Row Records

— Scott Budnick, Founder, Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)

— Evan Feinberg, Executive Director, Stand Together Foundation

• Lifestyle

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 14, 2022

Whoopi Goldberg Returns to The View After Two-Week Suspension

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Whoopi Goldberg returned to her co-hosting post on The View Monday following her two-week suspension for making controversial comments about the Holocaust.

“Hello, hello, hello, and welcome to The View. And yes, I am back,” Goldberg said during the show’s open.

Joy Behar was quick to tell her co-host how much she was missed before Goldberg went on to explain how “honored” she is to take part in the “tough conversations” the ladies have on the show.

“I missed you all too,” Goldberg said in response to Behar.

Whoopi Goldberg returns to ABC following her two-week suspension over the controversial Holocaust comments she made. CNN's @brianstelter weighs in on her apology and return to "The View." https://t.co/MimOnJOzKN pic.twitter.com/gzweYjpRAC

— CNN News Central (@NewsCentralCNN) February 14, 2022

“I got to tell you, there’s something kind of marvelous about being on a show like this because we are The View, and this is what we do,” she said.

“Sometimes we don’t do this as eloquently as we could, but it’s five minutes to get in important information about topics.”

“It is an honor to sit at this table and be able to have these conversations because they’re important,” Goldberg added. “They’re important to us as a nation and to us more so as a human entity.”

While not addressing the suspension directly, Goldberg’s response seemingly referenced her remarks on the Jan. 31 show when she inaccurately implied that the “Holocaust isn’t about race,” People reports.

Goldberg issued an apology after first doubling down on her claims during an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

“I thought it was a salient discussion because, as a Black person, I think of race as being something that I can see,” Whoopi told Colbert. “So I see you and I know what race you are, and the discussion was about how I felt about that. People were very angry, and they said, ‘No, no, we are a race,’ and I understand. I understand. I felt differently.”

She later apologized on the show the following day ahead of producers announcing her two-week suspension.

“I said the Holocaust wasn’t about race and was instead about man’s inhumanity to man,” Goldberg said on the Feb. 1 episode. “But it is indeed about race because Hitler and the Nazis considered Jews to be an inferior race.”

• Women

by Derek Major

February 14, 2022

NYC Pastor Who Ran Over Estranged Wife and Attacked Her With Machete Sentenced To 23 Years In Prison

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Former New York City Pastor Victor Mateo will spend more than two decades behind bars for the brutal murder of his wife in front of his grandchildren.

According to a release from Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Bronx Supreme Court Judge Margaret Clancy sentenced Mateo to 23 years in prison for running over his wife Noelia Mateo multiple times before stabbing her repeatedly with a machete.

Mateo, who served as a pastor at The Redeemer Church in the Bronx, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder in November 2020. According to Law & Crime, the sentence aligns with what prosecutors recommended to the court after reaching a plea agreement with Mateo’s lawyers.

“The defendant not only took the life of a Bronx grandmother but also inflicted a possible lifetime of trauma to her grandchildren who were witnesses to this horrific crime,” Bronx District Attorney Clark said in the release. “The defendant and the victim had been estranged for approximately a month before he killed her. He pleaded guilty to first-degree Manslaughter in November.”

In addition to his sentence, Mateo will also receive five years of post-release supervision and finalized orders of protection, mandating he not contact the grandchildren who witnessed the murder.

Mateo and his wife had been estranged for about a month, when on the morning of Oct. 3, 2019, he parked outside of his wife’s apartment in the Throgs Neck neighborhood of the Bronx and waited.

Noelia came outside around 7 a.m. with her two grandchildren to drive them to school. When the three reached Mateo’s vehicle, the former pastor hit the gas and “struck her with his vehicle.” Noelia then hid under her car to avoid Mateo, who got out of his car and into his wife’s car, running over her several times.

Mateo then got out of his wife’s car and got a machete from his car then “hacked her with a machete” multiple times while the two grandchildren watched in horror.

A joint investigation between the NYPD, Pennsylvania State Police, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service led to Mateo’s arrest approximately one week after the incident.

In addition to murder, Mateo was also charged with second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and endangering the welfare of a child, but those charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement.