Father ‘astonished’ as son’s accused killer acquitted in prep school stabbing

The daddy of a killed Fairfield, Connecticut, Prep Faculty Lacrosse participant reacted with shock after the suspected assassin of his son was acquitted on Wednesday afternoon on an indictment for homicide.

“I’m shocked in regards to the outcomes, however you already know, it is the best course of,” mentioned a Stoic Kevin McGrath exterior the Constitutional Court docket In Milford, Connecticut, Later his son describes as a ‘nice particular person’.

“He’s entitled to it,” mentioned McGrath. “And on the finish of the day the jury made their judgment. I’m not certain in the event that they, you already know, they had been in the identical courtroom as we had been all collectively, however that’s the verdict. And we are going to stay with it.”

Kevin McGrath, proper, father of the Lacrosse participant Jimmy McGrath from the killed Prep Faculty, speaks to reporters exterior the Constitutional Court docket in Milford after the acquittal of Raul Valle on July 9, 2025. He’s with household lawyer Michael Rosnick. (Fox Information)

Prep Faculty Lacrosse Participant’s accused assassin was not responsible of homicide

McGrath referred to Raul Valle, 20, who, after a technique of eight days and nearly three days of jury session, was acquitted of the homicide of McGrath’s son, James “Jimmy” McGrath, throughout a combat on a loud, drink get together in 2022.

McGrath, who was then 17, was a Lacrosse participant at Fairfield Faculty Preparatory Academy. Valle was 16 on the time of deadly stitches, however was accused as an grownup.

Valle was additionally acquitted on the least included accusation of intentional manslaughter, two accusations of first diploma assault and one indictment of second -degree assault.

The jury was caught on lesser accusations of reckless manslaughter and reckless abuse. Choose Shari Murphy defined a mistrial on these counts and left the door open for Valle to be moved doable.

Cut up picture of Jimmy McGrath, who was killed in Could 2022. (Fairfield Faculty Preparatory Faculty)

Prep Faculty Lacrosse Participant’s accused assassin may stroll after making authorized maneuver: professional

“I can not even think about that, you already know, I’m right here at this a part of the speech,” mentioned Kevin McGrath on Wednesday. “I imply, I used to be prepared for perhaps manslaughter. I used to be not prepared to not be responsible. I will probably be sincere with you: I do not assume somebody was.”

“I used to be extraordinarily assured, most likely reckless. I used to be shocked,” he mentioned. “You already know, it is most likely why I’ve management. I’m now shocked by the decision.”

McGrath was generally nice too.

“Raul Valle acquired a good trial,” he assured reporters.

“I do not consider that Raul Valle awoke on Saturday morning and mentioned he would kill Jimmy McGrath. You already know, I by no means believed that. They did not know one another. I’m simply in shock that an harmless younger man with a superb potential is now not with us. And the one who has entered his life is now good tonight.”

He additionally graciously thanked First Responders, researchers, the courtroom and the media for the skilled throughout the felony trial.

Kevin and Margaret McGrath, the dad and mom of James McGrath, and his sister, Rose, arrive on the state of Superior Court docket on the primary day of the homicide technique of Raul Valle in Milford, Connecticut, 17 June 2025. (Ned Gerard/Connecticut Publish through Getty Photos)

See also  Woman won't buy junk food for family, leading to 'multiple' arguments at home among her kids

Connecticut Teen to face for the homicide of PrEP Faculty Athlete who shake ‘dad and mom’, faculties: lawyer

McGrath Household Legal professional Michael Rosnick spoke briefly about the potential of additional authorized motion.

“There are fewer prices included,” he mentioned. “I count on, we count on that the workplace of the state’s lawyer will submit an data, however I’ll let the workplace of the state lawy communicate for itself.”

The events are at the moment concerned in civil disputes.

Valle went to the St. Joseph Excessive Faculty in Trumbull close to Fairfield Prep, the place McGrath Junior was. Each had been to a home get together on the night of Could 14, 2022, which meant a combat and a minor drink previous to the stabbing, which passed off later that night at one other home get together.

Raul Valle is at his lawyer Kevin Smith, left on the primary day of his homicide course of within the Constitutional Court docket in Milford, Connecticut, 17 June 2025. (Ned Gerard/Connecticut Publish through Getty Photos)

Click on right here to get the Fox Information app

At one level there have been about 25 folks concerned within the combat on the entrance garden of the home, whose homeowners had been current throughout the combat, witnesses advised the police. No less than three youthful suspects are talked about within the report, together with Valle, who was suspected of getting a knife.

McGrath had “one stab wound on the left facet of the chest,” says the order. “The stab wound went by means of the rib and the center.”

Valle claimed throughout his course of that he acted in self -defense and that he protected one in every of his pals.