Jeremiah Ryan, 18, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last month for the April 2022 death of Angellyh Yambo, 16, who was walking home from school when she was shot and killed by a stray bullet from a ghost gun. Ryan, who was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison Friday, showed little remorse, while Yambo’s mother, Yanely Henriquez, gave this impassioned victim’s impact statement:
On Tuesday, January 24, 2006, at 3:44 pm, the most beautiful bundle of joy was born, her name was Angellyh Marieh Yambo.
The name Angellyh means “an Angel.”
She stole my heart.
I was looking at her perfect little toes, long fingers, and those chubby cheeks with a head full of jet-black hair.
She was the perfect creation of life, and I just held her and kissed her.
Everyone loved Angellyh. I was so proud and happy because God gave me the princess I always wanted.
I’m now a broken mother that won’t see her princess ever again.
Of course, you don’t know what love means because you didn’t grow up like her; instead, you chose the streets while she was in school doing her best to be successful.
You decided to get a gun to shoot innocent people, and look at the damage that you caused.
Because of you, I won’t see her graduate, get married, or have a family, and I will never see her children; my whole world fell apart since her loss, our entire community saw my pain, and we all wish she was here because she was a beautiful and excellent human being and I can’t say the same thing about you.
If you had any type of consciousness you would understand my pain, but you don’t even care.
My job is located one block away from the city morgue; every time I see a medical examiner’s vehicle, I think of that tragic day when she was transported in a black bag, as I sank inside.
I no longer go out for lunch just to avoid seeing the body bags.
My daughter was the most important thing in my life.
She was my everything, my best friend, and when you took her away from me you changed my life forever.
I just picture her inside that bag with blood all over her body.
All I can say is that I hope you sit in prison for the rest of your life where you cannot harm another innocent person.
People say it wasn’t only one life lost, but guess what?
It was one life because you still have the opportunity to see your family, talk to them, write them a letter and even email them and what do I have — a cold wall with a beautiful picture of Angellyh that I speak and cry [to] and don’t get any response from.
There were times I just wanted to end my life.
I feel so empty inside; I recently spent 18 days in a psychiatric ward because I wasn’t able to handle my pain.
I wasn’t able to function, I felt lost without her and I felt my life was completely meaningless.
Angellyh Yambo, you were only 16 years old and starting to live your life and you had plans for the future and your education, we need justice for you, you will always know your mother loves you forever and a day and will be here to fight for you.
As a grieving mother who lost her only daughter and best friend, I ask for the maximum sentence!
