James Campbell, 13 year old Donegal Township, Pennsylvania boy stabs 10 year old best friend, Hunter Meyers to death during sleepover. No known motive.
A 13 year old boy in Pennsylvania is accused of stabbing to death his 10 year old ‘best friend’ to death during a sleepover in Westmoreland County.
James Campbell, 13, upon his arrest was charged with criminal homicide and first-degree murder. The boy is being charged as an adult.
The victim’s identity has since released as Hunter Meyers. The boy died about 3 weeks before his 11th birthday.
Best friends and cousins
The stabbing happened Thursday morning inside the suspect’s grandmother’s house in the 400 block of Donegal Lake Road in Donegal Township.
Police said the victim was sleeping over at Campbell’s house. Someone later called 911 around 6 a.m. when they found the victim dead with a knife beside him. Investigators said that Campbell had blood on his pants and feet.
Campbell confessed to police to stabbing the victim in the head several times, according to a criminal complaint, WPXI reported.
Meyers’ mother Dorothy Meyers said the youngsters were best friends and cousins.
No known motive
She said that there had never been any concerns about Campbell prior to the killing and that they had ‘no warning’ of what was to happen.
Police are urging parents to keep an eye on their children and talk to them about any issues they may be having.
Both Campbell and Hunter attended Agora Cyber Charter School.
Campbell remains held without bond until his next court appearance.
A spokesperson for the boys’ school called the incident a ‘tragic situation’ and said counselors would be made available to students when the school year starts again in fall.
A GoFundMe set up to help support Meyers’ family had raised more than $17,130 as of Saturday afternoon.
A motive for the stabbing is still unknown. The Pennsylvania State Police are asking anyone who may have information about what led to the stabbing to contact them.
