A Wyoming Mall stabbing killed a 14-year-old boy for protecting his girlfriend.
Tragedy struck at the Eastridge Mall in Casper, Wyoming, where 14-year-old Bobby Maher lost his life while courageously defending his girlfriend from two masked teenagers.
The fatal stabbing occurred after Maher confronted the alleged harassers, identified as two 15-year-old boys from Evansville and Casper, who were reportedly harassing his middle school sweetheart on a Sunday afternoon.
Authorities have now charged the two teenagers as adults in connection with the stabbing death of Bobby Maher at the mall.
14-Year-Old Teen Hero Slain in Casper Shopping Mall
Maher's swift response to his girlfriend's distress call led him to confront the two suspects, later identified as Jarreth Plunkett (JJ) and Dominique Harris (Dom), who were reportedly tailing her and a friend within the mall premises, according to official records.
Upon arrival, Maher prioritized the safety of his girlfriend and her companion, urging the alleged perpetrators to depart while attempting to guide his loved ones out of harm's way.
Surveillance footage purportedly captures Maher's attempts to distance himself from the individuals, identifiable by their hooded balaclava-style masks, as Plunkett instigated confrontations by provoking Maher to retaliate physically.
In the ensuing altercation, Harris is alleged to have forcefully restrained Maher before assaulting him, while Plunkett, as depicted in the complaint, was purportedly observed using a "kitchen-style knife" to inflict fatal injuries on Maher.
Following the incident, Plunkett and Harris reportedly fled the scene, discarding the weapon and masks in a nearby parking area, according to law enforcement statements.
During interrogation, the suspects allegedly claimed that Maher had disparagingly referred to them as "freaks," offering a potential motive for their actions.
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Chaos Before Wyoming Mall Stabbing
According to court documents, the Casper Police Department received a call at 1:41 p.m. on Sunday regarding an unconscious juvenile outside the Hibachi Supreme Buffet within the mall premises. Adults present at the scene had already initiated emergency CPR and first aid.
Sgt. Michael Paschke of the Casper Police took charge of administering CPR to Maher, who had sustained two stab wounds during what the arrest affidavit describes as "an altercation that just occurred."
A statement in the affidavit from Maher's friend revealed the rapid sequence of events, mentioning that the knife used in the attack was not visible until JJ approached and began stabbing Maher.
The community's response on local social media platforms has been marked by an overwhelming display of sympathy and support for Maher and his family.
A GoFundMe campaign initiated by family friend Ashlyn Benbo has raised over $24,000 to date. Benbo's post highlights the tragic loss suffered by the Mahers, describing them as "an amazing family (that) has lost their son tragically."
Legal records indicate that Harris was under probation for controlled substance possession at the time of the incident and had previously violated probation due to theft charges from an earlier occurrence.
Plunkett is facing a first-degree murder charge, which carries a potential penalty of death or life imprisonment.
Both suspects are also charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, a felony punishable by death or life imprisonment.
Additionally, the aggravated assault and battery charges they face carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison along with a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The theft charges, categorized as misdemeanors, could result in a jail term of no more than six months, a fine of up to $750, or both.
Bond amounts were set at $500,000 cash for Plunkett and $450,000 for Harris during their initial court appearance.
