Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio held a press conference on Monday to announce that a 16-year-old male was in custody for the brutal stabbing death of his 3 year old brother and assault on his 9 year old sister on Saturday in Youngtown.
“Now we have this incident of a vicious, vicious, horrific murder of a 3 yearold. It looks like domestic violence is out of hand,” stated Arpaio.
Arpaio said the children’s mother was working at the time of the murder. Arpaio said deputies responded to the scene at a house in the 11,000 block of Longley Lane at approximately 11:00 p.m.
Also at the home were two other male siblings ages 17 and 4.
Arpaio described the 16 year old running down the street covered in blood and leaving traces of blood in the roadway before he was tackled by deputies. The deputies had arrived at the home after neighbors reported seeing the 17 year old escaping the home with the 9 year old sister and 4 year old brother.
“We have to get forensic experts to interview the underage witnesses. We need to be protective when dealing with young people. We still have to finish this investigation,” said the emotional Arpaio. “Young people need to relax a little, and we need to not hit them right away.”
“This 16 year old will be tried as an adult,” vowed Arpaio, who stated that the suspect had no known history of mental illness. “Right now, he is in juvenile detention.”