15-Year-Old Charged With Killing Teen At House Party
WEST BLOOMFIELD (WWJ/AP) - A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder, accused of stabbing another teen outside a home during a party in an affluent Detroit suburb.
According to authorities, the suspect stabbed 17-year-old Johnathan Rickman of West Bloomfield Township in the stomach with a knife.
The killing happened Saturday in the 7300 block of Rafford Lane in West Bloomfield Township.
The boys were acquaintances, said police Lt. Tim Diamond.
"There was a disagreement between the two, and the suspect grabbed a knife from the kitchen and pursued (Rickman) outside," Diamond told The Oakland Press. Police did not disclose the reason for the dispute.
Rickman attended Walled Lake Western High School, while the 15-year-old attended Walled Lake Central.
"Everyone is shocked and saddened by this," Walled Lake schools spokeswoman Judy Evola told the Detroit Free Press. "We'll be giving opportunities to students to talk to each other and talk to professionals."
Students are just wrapping up their final week of school.
The suspect appeared in court Monday, charged as an adult with open murder and felonious assault. The trial will be in juvenile court.
"What that means is that he will be tried on the circuit court level in front of 12 jurors," county prosecutor Jessica Cooper told The Detroit News. "If convicted, the judge has the option of sentencing him as an adult or juvenile or a blended sentence."
The teen is in custody at Children's Village in Pontiac awaiting a June 14 preliminary examination.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
