A 13-year-old girl is dead following a stabbing during a chaotic fight at a Houston apartment complex — and police say the suspect is a 10-year-old boy.
Houston police confirmed that the child was taken into custody after the fatal stabbing of Riley Dearmas on Wednesday, February 4. The boy was later released into his family’s custody as the Harris County District Attorney’s Office reviews the case and decides whether charges will be filed. No charges had been announced as of the latest update.
According to the Houston Police Department, the stabbing happened during a large fight involving multiple people at an apartment complex. Investigators have not said how many individuals were involved, and the boy’s identity has not been released due to his age.
Officers were called to the scene around 8 p.m. Riley was rushed to the hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Police said the stabbing stemmed from a physical altercation between two groups, but details about how the fight escalated remain under investigation.
Over the weekend, nearly 100 people gathered to honor Riley’s life at a memorial held Saturday, February 8. Attendees released balloons — most of them purple, her favorite color — in a quiet tribute.
Riley’s mother, Ashley DeArmas, described her daughter as a gentle, loving presence who brought joy wherever she went.
“Joyful. Free-spirited. Happy. A dancer. A singer,” she told KHOU. Riley was just weeks away from her 14th birthday.
“Instead of me celebrating her 14th birthday, I’m trying to bury my daughter,” Ashley said. “These balloons should have been for her birthday, not her death.”
Ashley also pushed back strongly against claims that the stabbing was an act of self-defense.
“There was no self-defense,” she said. “My daughter was attacked. She was not violent. She would never intentionally harm anyone. The narrative that’s going around — that was not Riley.”
“She did not deserve it,” she added. “She did not deserve to die.”
Riley was a student at Dean Middle School. Principal Michael George confirmed her death in a letter sent to parents and guardians, calling it a devastating loss for the school community.
“The faculty and staff are deeply saddened to share the death of one of our students,” the letter read. “She will be greatly missed by family, friends, and teachers.”
Counselors and support staff have been made available to students and families as they process the tragedy.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and are asking anyone with information about the fight or the stabbing to contact the Houston Police Department’s Homicide Division or Crime Stoppers.
The young brutha didn’t “stab” the sista, the brutha “stuck” her.
Bad Bunny says use the right language here.