A 14-year-old boy, Robert Dean Maher, from Wyoming lost his life while attempting to protect his girlfriend from a pair of teenagers at a mall. The incident took place at Eastridge Mall in Casper. According to the Daily Mail, the boy was stabbed twice in the stomach with a kitchen knife that was stolen.
The suspects are facing charges as adults, including felonious conspiracy to commit murder, felonious aggravated assault and battery, and misdemeanor theft. Officials were alerted to the situation when they received a call about an unconscious boy outside the mall.
According to an affidavit, Maher was stabbed twice during the altercation. Witnesses reported a shocking encounter involving individuals known as ‘JJ’ and Dom’, who were wearing masks. Reports noted that their names are Dominique Antonio Richard Harris and Jarreth Joseflee Sabastian Plunkett. Maher and a friend went to the mall to protect Maher’s girlfriend and her friend who were being followed by two teens. Maher confronted the teens and a physical fight broke out outside the mall.
According to Maher’s friend, Dom forcefully pushed Maher to the ground and then JJ approached and stabbed him.
Maher’s friend admitted not knowing the attackers’ last names but mentioned they all attended Dean Middle School. Police interviews revealed a past incident at a park where Maher allegedly called the suspects
“freaks”
after seeing them enter a portable toilet together.
Plunkett later asked one of Maher’s friends if they wanted to settle Maher’s “blood debt,” reports say. The suspects also confessed to stealing kitchen knives from Target prior to the fatal confrontation. Casper police obtained a video showing Plunkett chasing and screaming at Maher outside the entrance of the mall.
According to the affidavit,
“Jarreth also told (Maher) to swing on him several times; however, (Maher) clearly did not want to fight.”
Maher attempted to enter the mall but faced difficulty due to a large group of other young people gathering around, preventing his entry.
