| ALBANY, NY – District Attorney P. David Soares today announced that JAH-LAH VANDERHORST, now 18, of Albany, was sentenced to 25 years in State Prison this morning before Judge Dan Lamont in Albany County Court. On June 21, 2012 VANDERHORST was found guilty after a Jury trial of (1) Count of Manslaughter in the 1st Degree, a Class “B” Violent Felony. On April 30, 2011, VANDERHORST and co-defendant DHORUBA SHUAIB, then 19, of Albany, caused the death of 17 year old Tyler Rhodes at Hoffman Park in the City of Albany by means of stabbing him in the heart with a knife. “Stacey Rhodes, the victim’s mother, said it best today during her victim impact statement: ‘When you, JahLah Vanderhorst, plunged a knife into my son’s chest you took everything from me. But you also hurt your own family,’” said DA David Soares. “Today in the courtroom, as he did throughout the trial, Mr. Vanderhorst took no responsibility for his crime and offered no apology to the Rhodes family. Ms. Rhodes began a new chapter in her life this morning and is committed to working with inner city youth to ensure no mother has to experience the loss of a child to street violence.” On February 3, 2012 SHUAIB was found guilty after a Jury trial of (1) Count of Manslaughter in the 1st Degree, a Class “B” Violent Felony, under a statute for accessorial liability, meaning he intentionally behaved in a way that did cause the death of the victim. SHUAIB is currently serving a term of 21 years in State Prison. Chief Assistant District Attorney David Rossi and Assistant District Attorney Steven Sharp handled the prosecution of this case.
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