Latest news with #teenviolence
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Telegraph
Teenager claims he was bullied before stabbing boy, 15, to death
A 15-year-old boy who stabbed a fellow pupil to death has claimed he was being bullied on social media in the weeks before the killing. The teenager is accused of murdering Harvey Willgoose, also 15, at All Saints Catholic High School in February. Giving evidence at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday, he told jurors he was subjected to racist bullying on social media and taunts about a medical condition. The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, said the bullying affected how he controls his temper. Asked by his barrister Gul Nawaz Hussain KC how this affected his temper, the boy said: 'I can get angry quickly, upset quickly. 'I can't control it.' The boy said he had been bullied online by 'strangers' and by pupils at All Saints, including 'racist bullying'. The barrister asked him: 'When bullying was happening on social media, did you feel you could get away from it?' The boy said no. When Mr Hussain asked him about the worst threat he had received on social media, the defendant replied: 'Someone said, 'I'll stab you up'.' He said he began to believe the threats and, when his barrister asked 'how did that make you feel?', the boy said: 'Scared.' The boy told the jury about his home life, explaining how his mother had mental health problems and his father was often not there. He said the house was not clean and it was often left to him to do laundry and make meals for him and his siblings. The defendant said he was also hit by his father. Teachers have told the jury that the defendant had 'anger issues' and the boy admitted he 'cannot control my anger sometimes'. Mr Hussain asked: 'Has the bullying affected your anger?' 'Yes,' the boy replied. He said he did not tell his mother or father about the bullying because they 'wouldn't care'. The jury has been shown CCTV footage of Harvey being stabbed in the courtyard at All Saints during the lunch break on Feb 3. The court has heard that the teenager has admitted manslaughter but denies murder. He has also admitted possession of a knife on school premises. The defendant was asked about an incident in November 2024, which was also captured on CCTV, in which he punched a computer monitor after he was accused of using social media on his phone during a lesson. Asked by Mr Hussain why he did this, he said: 'Because I was angry.' He said he was not using the phone for social media and he thought it was 'unfair' he had been given a sanction by the teacher without her giving him a chance to explain himself. Addressing the jury last week, Mr Hussain said: '[The defendant] did not set out to kill or seriously hurt anyone. 'The defence say [the defendant's] actions that day were the end result of a long period of bullying, poor treatment and violence, things that built one upon another until he lost control and did tragically what we've all seen.' The trial continues.
BBC News
7 days ago
- BBC News
Boy, 14, assaulted at Mablethorpe skate park
Police are appealing for information after a 14-year-old boy was assaulted at a skate park in said the boy was kicked and punched by another teenager during the attack on Friday Nathan Price said it was an "awful" incident and the victim was "lucky to have walked away with injuries that he'll recover from".Lincolnshire Police said it is thought about 30 people were present at the Quebec Road site but none had come forward to speak. PC Price said: "Sadly, of all the people in the area at the time, not one has talked to us or proactively given us any information."That's a crying shame because we really need to investigate the exact details of this incident and hold those to account who need to be," he officer also appealed to parents to get in touch with police."Was your child in the skatepark on Friday night? If so, it's likely they saw this incident," he said."Please talk to your son or daughter and encourage them to talk to us. If the situation was reversed, we are sure that any parent would want to see the person who harmed their child held to account."Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
Prep school lacrosse player's accused killer found not guilty of murder
Raul Valle, accused of stabbing Fairfield, Connecticut prep school lacrosse player James "Jimmy" McGrath to death in March 2022, has been found not guilty on murder and intentional manslaughter charges. Valle was also acquitted of first- and second-degree intentional assault. The jury was deadlocked on charges of first-degree reckless manslaughter and first- and second-degree reckless assault. Judge Shari Murphy declared a mistrial on those deadlocked charges. Valle, now 20, was tearful during an emotional reaction to the verdict. He was 16 when McGrath, 17, was stabbed to death during a booze-fueled teenage brawl following a house party. McGrath played lacrosse at Fairfield College Preparatory School. Outside the courtroom, McGrath's father, Kevin McGrath, reacted to the verdict with shock. "I'm astonished at the results, but, you know, it's due process. [Valle] is entitled to it. And at the end of the day, the jury made their verdict," he said. "I'm not sure if, you know, if they were in the same courtroom as we all were together, but that's the verdict, and we'll live with it." He described himself as "perhaps overconfident" that Valle would be convicted when he learned that the jury had returned a verdict. Read On The Fox News App "I'm shocked. You know, it's probably why I'm in control," he said. "I'm shocked right now of the verdict." However, McGrath said the trial was fair. "Raul Valle received a fair trial," he said. "I don't believe Raul Valle woke up Saturday morning and said he was going to kill Jimmy McGrath. You know, I never believed that. They didn't know each other. I'm just in shock that an innocent young man with a brilliant potential is not with us anymore. And the person that took his life is right now free tonight." McGrath thanked the first responders, investigators, the court and the media for conducting themselves professionally throughout the criminal justice process. The family's attorney, Michael Rosnick, mentioned in passing that the state could retry Valle on the lesser included charges where a mistrial was declared. "There are lesser included charges," he said. "I anticipate, we anticipate, that the state's attorney's office will file an information, but I'm going to let the state's attorney's office speak for itself." Deadlocked Jurors In Prep School Lacrosse Player's Killing A 'Great Sign' For Defense: Expert Donna Rotunno is a criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor. She told Fox News Digital that the not-guilty verdict on the murder charge is justified. "I don't think that the punishment would fit the elements of the crime in this circumstance," she said Wednesday afternoon. "I don't think this rises to the level of … where somebody should spend the rest of their life in prison. And it's an awful, terrible, tragic situation. But I don't think that there was the level of intent necessary to spend the rest of their life in prison. "There is never an intent to use [a weapon]. Your hope is to have it in case you need it and I think the facts and circumstances of this situation lend to that analysis. I think that this was a circumstance where a fight broke out. I do believe that [Valle] felt that he was in danger. I believe he felt that his friends were in danger, and therefore those were the decisions that he made. And, you know, knife or not, that was that." Self-defense Claim In Austin Metcalf Slaying Is 'Uphill Battle': Expert The jury was deadlocked at 11-1 on Monday and Tuesday before deliberations continued Wednesday morning, as NBC Connecticut reported. Valle testified during the trial, claiming the stabbing was self-defense. "I think those stories are very compelling for jurors. I think jurors really try to get it right," Rotunno told Fox News Digital on Tuesday, before the jury reached the verdict. "Obviously, there are some cases where maybe that analysis doesn't fit or somebody makes the claim of self-defense [and] it doesn't make sense under the law. But … given the way this jury has been out now for a couple of days, and they're clearly deadlocked … [defense attorneys] have made a compelling argument to at least one or some." She added that any time a defendant asserts self-defense, "the burden shifts to you to show that … you were in reasonable fear." Valle took the witness stand in his own defense last week, which Rotunno said is "almost necessary" in cases like his. Austin Metcalf's Suspected Killer Indicted On First-degree Murder Charge In Track Meet Stabbing Valle attended St. Joseph High School in Trumbull near Fairfield Prep, where McGrath was a junior. Both had been at a house party on the evening of May 14, 2022 that involved a fight and underage drinking prior to the stabbing, which occurred at another house party later that night. Police responded to several 911 calls reporting a fight that occurred just before midnight on May 14, 2022 outside a residence on Laurel Glen Drive in Shelton and found multiple victims on the front lawn. The owner of the residence where the party took place was home at the time of the incident, according to a warrant. At one point, there were about 25 people engaged in the fight on the front lawn of the home, witnesses told police. At least three juvenile suspects are mentioned in the report, including Valle, who is suspected of having a knife. McGrath had "one stab wound to the left side of the chest," the warrant states. "The stab wound went through the rib and heart." Connecticut Teen To Stand Trial For Prep School Athlete's Murder That Has 'Shaken' Parents, Schools: Attorney A doctor from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Connecticut told police that there were approximately 1.8 liters of blood in McGrath's lungs. During his emotional testimony, Valle said he never intended to kill anyone that evening. He said a friend handed him the knife during a large fight involving dozens of teenagers who surrounded him. He alleged that at one point during the fight, he lost consciousness. Valle further said he was swinging the knife in all directions and felt overwhelmed, according to Court TV. "So I think that it's very difficult in a self-defense case for a jury to not hear from the defendant," Rotunno explained. "Sometimes, you can establish it through other witnesses, but if you have a defendant that can take the stand, and you have somebody who … is going to do a good job telling the jury what happened, I almost think it's necessary in these cases." Rotunno said that "in a melee, you have to remember, you're talking about split-second situations." She noted that at one point during his testimony, Valle was asked whether someone next to him was coming directly at him during the fight, to which he responded that he could not remember. Rachel Morin Murder: Illegal Immigrant Suspect Denied Ever Being In Maryland At Time Of Crime "I think that for the defense, the best piece of information is just the fact that this is a total fight. You have no idea who's coming at you. You don't know what's going to happen to you. You're in fear, and you act," she said. "And in any circumstance, I understand that the prosecution is going to say, he brought this knife to a fist fight, right? … But just because you have a weapon on you doesn't mean that there was an intent to use it. And if you're not the aggressor, it doesn't mean you don't have a right to then defend yourself." If the jury does not come to an agreement, the judge may declare a mistrial. That could result in the case going "back to square one," Rotunno said. The defense could also argue for Valle's release in the case of a mistrial. A representative from St. Joseph told Fox News Digital in 2022 that Valle had been in good academic standing and had not been in any fights at school before the May 14 incident. Valle was released on $2 million bond just days after his arrest in May 2022. An obituary for McGrath described the 17-year-old as the "sunshine" of his parents' life and his sister's "best friend and confidant." "Many described Jim as a wonderfully happy person with a big heart who was a loving friend to many," the obituary states. "He loved his school, Fairfield Prep, and he excelled as an athlete in every sport he chose. He played football and lacrosse for Fairfield Prep and as a youth for Shelton and Connecticut Wolves as well. He understood the meaning of being part of a team."Original article source: Prep school lacrosse player's accused killer found not guilty of murder
CBS News
07-07-2025
- CBS News
Detroit police, mayor present summer teen violence prevention plan
In response to a series of violent incidents in the city this summer, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Police Chief Todd A. Bettison are introducing a summer safety teen violence prevention plan. The discussion includes a plan to address juvenile curfew violations in response to a trend in youth-involved incidents this summer. The City of Detroit launched its "Regulation of Minors in Public Places and Adult Responsibility for Violations," also known as the curfew law, during the mid-1980s. The press conference is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. How to watch City of Detroit press conference What: Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Detroit Police Chief Todd A. Bettison talking about teen violence prevention efforts. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Detroit Police Chief Todd A. Bettison talking about teen violence prevention efforts. Date: Monday July 7, 2025 Monday July 7, 2025 Time: 1 p.m. ET 1 p.m. ET Online stream: Live on the player above and on your mobile or streaming device During one such incident, three people were shot at Skinner Playfield, leaving two dead: an 18-year-old who has not been named and 4-year-old Samir Grubbs. Later, authorities arrested two teens in connection. Days before the park shooting, a 17-year-old was shot during the Ford Fireworks show. And in yet another incident, a teen was shot in the head on the city's east side. "You're going to see a whole lot of this police chief this summer. You're going to see me riding buses. You're going to see me not only walking a mile, but you're going to see me everywhere. Because I believe in being boots on the ground and we're going to make a difference, and you make a difference by being present," Bettison said last week.
CBS News
26-06-2025
- CBS News
Concerns rise in Denver about youth violence after troubling scene outside mall
Police say nearly 300 teens gathered near a shopping mall in the northeastern part of Denver on Sunday night, causing disturbances at businesses and getting into physical fights. Ty McKay One witness said this should serve as a wake-up call for parents and the community. "(My) first initial thought was go help," said Ty McKay, a community youth advocate who witnessed the scene outside The Shops at Northfield. This video from McKay shows the moments dozens of kids fought each other. Some ran, some hid and others took swings at one another. "It was a lot going on. It was a lot of fights happening," McKay said. Though police worked to push teens out of the area, McKay says that wasn't enough -- which is why he stepped in. "It was myself and two other individuals that hopped out of the car because there was no intervention by the police at all. They were just watching the kids fighting," he said. In a statement to CBS Colorado, Denver police said no damage was reported, although two small items were stolen from a business. No arrests were made. "My initial fear was the weapons. I didn't want any kids to be hurt or killed," McKay said. McKay runs Dream Culture, a nonprofit that works with Denver youth. He says the incident was eye-opening. "I have an organization, I work with kids, all those kinds of things. So it's one of those things that, you know, you kind of see it in social life. I just didn't want to see the tragedy." He says this should be concerning for the community. "There's been a lot of conversation -- not only with me, but with a lot of different organizations, leaders, family members -- about how we can address these things." Police say they are aware of other planned takeover events and are working on strategies to minimize future disruptions.
