A tragic incident unfolded at a shopping mall in Casper, Wyoming, when a 14-year-old boy was fatally attacked while attempting to shield his girlfriend from two masked teenagers. The event took place at Eastridge Mall on a Sunday afternoon.
The victim, Bobby Maher, was alerted by his girlfriend that she was being followed by two individuals, later identified as Jarreth Plunkett and Dominique Harris. Maher rushed to the mall to ensure the safety of his girlfriend and her friend, repeatedly urging Plunkett and Harris to leave them alone.
Security camera footage from the mall showed Maher retreating from the masked duo when Plunkett confronted him, instigating a fight. Harris then assaulted Maher, knocking him to the ground and repeatedly striking him. Plunkett proceeded to stab Maher with a kitchen knife.
Following the attack, the suspects hastily left the scene, discarding the bloodied knife and their masks in the mall’s parking lot. They were apprehended shortly thereafter. During their interrogation, Plunkett and Harris confessed to stealing the knife from a Target store located within the mall.
A friend of Maher revealed that the suspects, known as “JJ and Dom,” attended the same middle school as the victim. There had been a prior altercation between Maher and the suspects at a local park before the fatal incident at the mall.
Plunkett is facing charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault and battery, and theft. Harris has been charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated assault and battery, and misdemeanor theft. Both teenagers are being tried as adults.
In their preliminary court appearance, Plunkett’s bail was set at $500,000, while Harris’s was set at $450,000. The community is reeling from the shocking incident as they grieve the loss of Maher. The investigation is ongoing, and more details may be revealed as the case continues.