Police: fatal teen stabbing was self-defense

MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- New details are turning the tables on the deadly stabbing of a Meriden teenager. Did the victim actually attack the stabber?

Meriden police have released new information in the case saying the two teens had actually been stabbed in self-defense.

However, the family of the victim says it's not true and police are trying to protect the suspect.

According to the Meriden Police, witnesses tell them the 15-year-old was "high," and they were "looking for trouble," and wanted to "beat someone up."

The teddy bears at the scene of the stabbing are wet with rain. A teen's picture is washed out. And a utility pole is covered in black ink: messages of remembrance. With the pain so many clearly feel over the death of 15-year-old Deandre Felton, there has also been the thirst for answers as to what led to his stabbing death, as well as the stab wounds inflicted on his 13-year-old friend. The answer may surprise you.

"The two youths, attacked this individual, had a pocketknife, defended himself, he's been cooperative with us for the entire investigation," said Det. Lt. Mark Malerysiak.

Meriden police say they have consistent witness accounts of the instigation by Felton and subsequent defense by the unidentified man with the knife.

"When he found out that one of the individuals had died, he was very upset, very upset," said Det. Malerysiak.

"Look at where the injuries were, they were on the back," said Pastor Dante Moss. "You can not stab somebody in the back, kill them, and then say it was their fault. It has to be from the front, it has to be."

Moss, who has been counseling Felton's family and presided over Deandre's funeral, says the child's family is not accepting their son was the aggressor, and neither does he.

"But because it's Deandre, the little black boy, it's typical he was looking for trouble," Moss said. "So he deserved this. He deserved to die, he deserved to have chunks of his heart pulled out, ribs broken, but yet it's his fault."

Deandre has a family member who is a Meriden police officer. Police say the case remains in its infancy, and is turning all evidence over to the State's Attorney.

"This story is far from over," said Moss. "From reading what I've read, if this is what they want to release, then hell is to pay."

"We want to make sure the facts are put out there and uh, there's no place in this city for people to spew venom or give contradictory information to the facts," said Det. Malerysiak.

Click here to view the press release from the Meriden Police Department.