Police: 16-year-old arrested in connection to fatal stabbing of Shelton teen at house party

A 16-year-old was arrested in connection to the fatal stabbing of a Shelton teen at a house party, police say.

News 12 Staff

May 18, 2022, 11:25 AM

Updated 948 days ago

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A 16-year-old was arrested in connection to the fatal stabbing of a Shelton teen at a house party, police say.
The teen from Milford was arrested in connection to the deadly stabbing of 17-year-old James McGrath, of Shelton, who went to Fairfield Prep.
Police say the juvenile was charged with murder and three counts of assault and that he turned himself in to Shelton police around 3 a.m. Wednesday.
Officials say the teen is a student at St. Joseph's High School in Trumbull and will be transferred to adult court.
Authorities said the 16-year-old suspect — initially held at the Bridgeport Juvenile Detention Center — would be charged as an adult with one count of murder and three counts of assault in the first degree. They say the suspect, also an athlete, went to a "rival school."
Officials say the stabbing took place at a house party in Shelton, with three other males also getting stabbed, one of them with serious injuries — though all three victims are now out of the hospital.
"Shelton is a very small-knit community and this has been a very difficult case to be involved in," said Detective Richard Bango. "Many members of the Shelton Police Department, including myself, have teenage children, which made it especially difficult to work this case."
The suspect was arraigned Wednesday at New Haven Correctional Center on Whalley Avenue, where officials say his family members were present.
Bond was set at $2 million, and the suspect is set to appear in Derby Superior Court Thursday before being transferred to Milford Superior Court, adult court.
St. Joseph High School posted a statement on Facebook that says in part, "St. Joseph High School holds the Fairfield Prep School community close to our hearts and in our prayers. There are no words to properly describe such sadness in the wake of this devastating and profound loss of young life filled with such great promise."
The Shelton Detective Bureau is still actively investigating this case, and anyone with information is encouraged to call the Shelton Police Department at 203-924-1544.