17-year-old boy pulled out a dagger and stabbed a 15-year-old repeatedly, killing him, just because the teen asked him to leave the party for behaving aggressively; charged as juvenile

New York – In a deeply unsettling incident at a crowded house party in New York, what started as a typical teenage gathering turned devastating when 15-year-old L. Delemo was fatally stabbed after asking a group of uninvited teens to leave. The confrontation, sparked by disruptive behavior in the backyard, ended with one of the uninvited guests, a 17-year-old boy, allegedly pulling out a dagger and stabbing Liam multiple times. Now, that teenager is facing a second-degree murder charge. Though his identity remains protected due to his age, prosecutors revealed that the suspect is a high school wrestler with martial arts training. He is being tried as a juvenile, and if found guilty, could serve 25 years to life in prison.

According to reports, the police department arrested the 17-year-old after determining that he was responsible for the deadly stabbing. Prosecutors charged him with second-degree murder, citing witness accounts and forensic evidence that indicated he pulled a dagger and stabbed Delemo several times. The teen appeared in the county court, where he was denied bail. His attorney argued he had voluntarily surrendered to police and was not a flight risk, but the judge disagreed.

According to authorities, the defendant had traveled with two other friends to the party despite not being invited. The gathering, hosted by a local teen, drew dozens of guests. Delemo and others asked the uninvited group to leave after they began throwing bottles and behaving aggressively in the backyard. What began as an effort to keep the peace quickly turned into chaos. Witnesses say Delemo, who saw the group causing trouble, took it upon himself to intervene. According to his friend identified as A. Lombardi, Delemo told them to leave and was met with deadly violence. In an instant, the 17-year-old suspect allegedly pulled out a dagger and stabbed Delemo multiple times, delivering wounds that pierced several internal organs.

“He had heart even the night he passed away. He was trying to help others even after he got stabbed,” recalled another friend, identified as G. Ross, who stood alongside others in court days later, mourning a boy they said always protected his friends. Delemo was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died during emergency surgery. He was just weeks away from turning 16. After the stabbing, the teen suspect reportedly waved the dagger at others before fleeing the scene in a vehicle. The car ultimately crashed into a dead-end street, coincidentally near the home of an off-duty officer. The suspect and his friends fled on foot and later used a ride-share service to get home. One of his companions has since been charged with hindering prosecution for allegedly helping him evade authorities.

The timing of the arrest, made public on the same day as Delemo’s memorial, added another layer of sorrow for his grieving family. “He loved all of his friends,” said Delemo’s father. “You know, he would do anything for them.” His mother said simply, “He was a good kid and is definitely going to be missed by everybody.” Prosecutors revealed more fallout from the night: B. Miranda, the 70-year-old grandmother of the teen who hosted the party, was also charged for violating the county’s social host law and endangering the welfare of a child, due to the lack of supervision and the size of the gathering. In the courtroom, the 17-year-old defendant remained silent as the judge denied him bail.

Delemo’s death has left a deep mark on the local high school, which delayed opening in the days following the incident. Support services were provided to help students process the tragedy. Though still early in the legal process, the case has already ignited intense public discussion about party safety, youth violence, and accountability. As the community mourns a life cut short, the 17-year-old remains in custody, awaiting the next steps in what is likely to be a lengthy trial.