WYOMING TEEN ALLEGEDLY STABBED BY BOYS FOLLOWING HIS GIRLFRIEND, WHILE TRYING TO PROTECT HER
Bobby Maher, a 14-year-old boy from Wyoming lost his life after being fatally stabbed while he was trying to protect his girlfriend and friend from two boys. According to the reports of local news station KCWY, two older teenage boys, both 15 years old, were following Maher and his girlfriend in the Eastridge Mall located in Casper. One of the attackers was charged with murder, conspiracy to murder, aggravated assault, battery, and theft, while the other was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated assault and battery, and misdemeanor theft.
Despite being teenagers, the two boys were charged as adults due to the gravity of their crime, as per the Casper Star Tribune. Maher was discovered by cops who responded to a report about an unconscious juvenile outside the Eastridge Mall at 1:40 p.m. on 14 April 2024. Maher had suffered two stab wounds, as per an affidavit cited by KCWY, and some adults at the mall attempted to administer first aid to the boy before police arrived, per the report of KCWY.
Maher's friend told the police officers that his girlfriend had called him to inform them about the two teen boys who were following her and her female friend around the mall, as per Cowboy State Daily. The friend further described how the two boys were walking "in front of the girls when they arrived and were trying to get them out of the mall." When Maher arrived and started walking with the girls, he told the older teen boys to leave.
Once all of them were outside the mall, one of the offenders slammed Maher on the ground and the other one stabbed him with a "kitchen-style knife," according to the account that Maher's friend narrated to the officers. A video footage cited in the affidavit allegedly showed that one of the two older teens was provoking Maher to start a fight by swinging at them but Maher moved away and refused to initiate the fight. The suspects were later identified by police as Dominique Antonio Richard Harris and Jarreth Joseflee Sabastian Plunkett, who wore balaclava-style masks, according to the Star-Tribune.
The police confirmed have Harris and Plunkett as suspects after interviewing witnesses present on the scene. The suspects also confessed to stealing the knife from Target before stabbing Maher. Harris allegedly informed detectives that he "never threw a punch" at Maher during the incident, as per Cowboy State Daily. On the other hand, Plunkett allegedly told officers that Maher had told him to put the knife down but Plunkett responded with "I don't fight fair."
"The suspects were taken into custody within minutes of the investigation, adding that there was no evidence the crime was gang-related," according to a news release from Casper Police Department on Facebook.
Maher's family launched a GoFundMe account to seek funds for carrying out his funeral cost. "An amazing family has lost their son tragically. We are trying to raise money to help cover the costs of his funeral expenses. He has left behind his dad Robert, his mom Mary, and his 3 brothers. He was an amazing son, brother, friend, and teammate! We are heartbroken and will never be the same without him. Any help will be greatly appreciated by his family," the description on the fundraiser read.