Photo: Peoria Police Department/Facebook
A man accused of killing a 17-year-old boy in Peoria, Arizona, reportedly said that the teenager’s rap music made him feel “unsafe.”
According toCNN, Michael Paul Adams, 27, fatally stabbed Elijah Al-Amin in a convenience store early on Thursday morning. The Peoria Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that police arrived to the scene at approximately 1:45 a.m., where they found a male who had been stabbed.
Al-Amin was then taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead just after 2:00 a.m., CNN reported.
Elijah Al-Amin.Facebook
According toAZ Central, Adams had been released from the Arizona State Prison Complex on July 2 — just two days before allegedly killing Al-Amin.
The outlet reports that Adams allegedly used a pocket knife to stab Al-Amin in the back before slitting his throat. He was arrested near the convenience store, according to AZ Central, where he was found with blood on his clothes and admitted to a police officer that he was involved in the stabbing.
“Preliminary information shows that the victim was in the store, when the suspect came up and stabbed him in the neck area. The suspect then left the store on foot,” the Peoria Police Department told PEOPLE.
ThePostreports that Adams was charged with first-degree premeditated murder. According to CNN, he is being held at the Maricopa County Jail on $1 million bail.
Adams’ former attorney Jacie Cotterell said his client has a history of mental health issues, according to CNN, but the Arizona Department of Corrections said he was not designated as “seriously mentally ill,” thePostreports.
Serina Rides, Al-Amin’s mother, told CNN her son was going to be a senior in high school, worked at Subway and Taco Bell, and was trying to get a third job as well.
“My son is so special and so loved and everyone loved him,” she said. “He’s so compassionate and caring, so caring about everyone.”
source: people.com
