Boy, 10, suspected of fatally stabbing friend, 12

Associated Press – 3 hrs ago

EL CAJON, Calif. (AP) — A 10-year-old boy is suspected of fatally stabbing a 12-year-old friend in the chest with a kitchen knife, authorities say.

The older boy died Monday afternoon at a hospital after he was taken from his friend's home in El Cajon, about 15 miles east of San Diego, said the San Diego County sheriff's department. The mother of the 10-year-old was at home at the time of the stabbing, according to the U-T San Diego (http://bit.ly/zlsHQb).

Sheriff's officials have taken the 10-year-old into custody. Sheriff's homicide Lt. Larry Nesbit says "the case will be up to the juvenile justice system."

It remained unclear whether the boy had been booked into the juvenile detention system. The sheriff's office did not immediately return calls from The Associated Press, but said in a statement early Tuesday that the boys' identities would not be released because of their ages.

Neighbors say the 12-year-old boy lived in a nearby mobile home park but the two friends attended different schools.

A neighbor of the younger boy, 18-year-old Derek Gorton, told the newspaper he had emotional issues, and that something as small as tapping him on the shoulder the wrong way or losing at a video game could spark outrage.

"Even though he threw temper tantrums, we never thought he'd do anything like this," said Gorton.

Gorton's father, Brian Richeson, said the boy usually had verbal outbursts, but he hadn't seen him throwing things or hitting others. He praised the boy's mother, saying she had dealt with her son's problems head-on.

"She was the best mom I've ever met," Richeson told the U-T. "She knew how to take care of him if he was yelling and screaming."

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EL CAJON — A 10-year-old boy reportedly being treated for anger issues is suspected of stabbing a 12-year-old friend to death at the younger boy’s East County home Monday, stunning their tight-knit neighborhood.

Sheriff's deputies were called Monday afternoon to Royal Road in unincorporated El Cajon after a 12-year-old boy was reportedly stabbed by a 10-year-old boy. The stabbing victim died, sheriff's officials said.

The assault occurred in the driveway of the home in unincorporated El Cajon. The 10-year-old is believed to have used a kitchen knife to stab his friend in the chest and then stayed while paramedics took his friend away.

The victim, who lived in the neighboring Knolls Mobile Estates on Royal Road, died upon arrival at a hospital.

Homicides by children that young are rare.

In 2010, U.S. law enforcement agencies reported 11 murder suspects under the age of 13 — the same number reported in 2009 and 2008, according to FBI data.

“On our end, we conduct this investigation as we would any homicide investigation,” said sheriff’s homicide Lt. Larry Nesbit. “What ultimately happens with the case will be up to the juvenile justice system.”

Authorities did not release the name of the suspect because he is a juvenile.

Neighbors said he attends W.D. Hall Elementary School. The name of the victim also was not released, pending notification of family. Neighbors said he attended St. Kieran’s Catholic School.

The suspect’s mother was at the one-story home in the Winter Gardens neighborhood when the attack occurred about 1:30 p.m., Nesbit said.

He would not provide details about the altercation, nor give a possible motive.

The 10-year-old boy was taken into custody by sheriff’s deputies, although it remained unknown if he would be booked into Juvenile Hall due to his young age.

Neighbors described the boys as part of a group of about eight friends who often played at various homes on the street. Many said the 10-year-old suspect’s emotional issues were well-known in the neighborhood.

Neighbor Derek Gorton, 18, who lives in the mobile home park, said that something as small as tapping the boy on the shoulder the wrong way or losing at a video game could set him off.

“Even though he threw temper tantrums, we never thought he’d do anything like this,” said Gorton, a senior at Santana High School in Santee.

Gorton’s father, Brian Richeson, a retiree who often had the boys at his home, said the suspect would usually express his anger verbally, not through violent acts such as throwing items or hitting people.

He said the boy’s mother was proactive in dealing with the problems.

“She was the best mom I’ve ever met,” Richeson said. “She knew how to take care of him if he was yelling and screaming.”

Richeson said all of the children in the neighborhood were like siblings — they would fight one hour and then be back to being best friends the next.

Point Loma family psychologist Rochelle Perper said sometimes it’s not easy to predict violent outbursts.

“Sometimes there is a buildup of pressure we might not really see. A child might be processing it internally, or it will come out in ways not widely recognized,” Perper said. “There have been cases reported when stress reaches a critical point, the response is drastically exaggerated for the situation.”

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