The teens who allegedly fatally stabbed a Wyoming boy trying to protect his girlfriend had been in a weeks-long feud with the victim — and asked one of his pals if he wanted to fight them to “pay” his “blood debt,” officials said.
Dominique Harris and Jarreth Plunkett, both 15, — who are charged in the fatal stabbing of Bobby Maher on Sunday — had wanted to fight the teen since having a confrontation with him about two weeks ago during spring break at a park in Evansville, according to the Casper Star Tribune, which cited an affidavit detailing a police interview with Harris.
Maher had apparently called Harris and Plunkett “freaks” after they went to a port-a-potty together at the park, the affidavit stated.
In his interview with cops, Harris said Plunkett also asked Maher’s friend if he wanted to fight them to “pay” the teen’s “blood debt” after the port-a-potty episode.
On Sunday afternoon, Harris and Plunkett arrived at the Eastridge Mall, where they allegedly stole Red Bulls, sour candy, and two kitchen knives at a Target, the Star Tribune reported, citing the affidavit.
“(Harris) stated (Plunkett) had taken the knife knowing they were going to fight (Maher),” according to the affidavit.
Harris gave the knife he stole to someone else because he was on probation due to previous theft charges, officials said.
Meanwhile, Maher had arrived at the mall after his girlfriend called to say the two suspects were following her and a friend around, officials said.
Maher tried to usher his girlfriend and her friend away from the mall in a bid “to keep them safe” while telling the two suspects to leave, court papers state.
Video of the altercation that led to the fatal stabbing shows that Maher “clearly did not want to fight because he was observed moving away from the knife-wielding Plunkett,” the affidavit said.
“Maher also put his hands up, indicating that his hands were empty,” it states.
Plunkett told investigators that his alleged accomplice asked him to “put the knife away – this isn’t fair” — to which Plunkett replied: “I don’t play fair,” according to the affidavit.
Surveillance video allegedly showed Maher backing away from his alleged attackers, who were wearing hooded balaclava-style masks, as Plunkett told him “to swing on him several times.”
Harris was allegedly captured on video picking up Maher by his waist and slamming him to the ground before repeatedly punching his face.
Moments later, Plunkett stepped in and could be seen plunging the “kitchen-style knife” into the victim, according to the affidavit.
The suspects fled and allegedly dumped the bloodied knife and their masks in the parking lot, cops said.
Plunkett and Harris were charged as adults with conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, battery, and theft.
Plunkett also is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing Maher.
One of the victim’s friends later told police that the two suspects attended the same Dean Middle School as the victim, but that they only knew them as “JJ and Dom.”
Meanwhile, Maher’s grieving father posted a heartbreaking message on Facebook about the loss.
“Bobby Rest in Peace my baby I miss you so much Daddy was so proud of you and loved you so much so very much ! We are so devastated nothing can bring you back we love you … you will never be forgotten!” he wrote.
“I am dying inside and out right now and will be forever!” he added.
The community has also launched a “Blue Hearts for Bobby” Facebook group promoting a candlelight vigil on Thursday.
“I’m joining hands with many to share a simple but powerful symbol – a blue heart, in loving memory of Bobby, a bright young life tragically cut short,” one user wrote.
“This blue heart is more than just a tribute; it’s a pledge to carry forward the kindness Bobby embodied, a stand against the darkness of bullying, and a beacon of hope for a world more compassionate,” he added.
A fellow student posted a drawing in memory of the slain teen.
“I wanted to take a moment and draw a bear holding a heart and with a basketball beside the bear for Bobby…. When I started it made me wanted to cry because he went to the same school as me and he was in my PE class ,” the user wrote. “My PE class feels like it’s nothing no more.”
The two suspects had their bonds set at $500,000 and $450,000, respectively, during an initial court hearing Monday.
