Police in Harford County have charged a 17-year-old with murder in the stabbing death of a Bel Air man Friday evening.
The victim and his assailant appear to have lived about a block from each other, according to police, who say they believe an apparent burglary led to the fatal altercation.
Around 9 p.m. Friday, Harford County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call in the 900 block of Redfield Road for a reported stabbing.
The victim, since identified as Patrick Xavier Ward, 29, had been stabbed multiple times in the upper torso, while inside of his apartment, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.
Mr. Ward was transported to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center by Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company ambulance. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
According to the sheriff's office, neighbors indicated that when they heard yelling coming from inside of Mr. Ward's apartment, they ran to his assistance.
Once inside, they saw a young black male who quickly fled the scene. The man was located a short distance away from the crime scene on Fairwood Road.
Donnell Graham, 17, of the 200 block of Fairwood Road was charged Saturday in connection with the incident, according to sheriff's office Public Information Officer Monica Worrell.
Graham was charged with murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree, first and second degree assault and possession of a dangerous weapon with intent to injure.
According to Worrell, detectives believe Graham entered Mr. Ward's home with the intent to burglarize it and when confronted by Mr. Ward, a "struggle ensued" where Graham stabbed Ward multiple times in the upper torso.
Based on information provided at the scene by neighbors and witnesses, patrol deputies were able to quickly identify the suspect, Worrell said in a later news release.
A K-9 track led deputies from the crime scene to the front of the suspect's apartment building. Deputies were able to take Graham into custody without incident, Worrell said.
Graham was transported to the Harford County Detention Center for processing and is currently being held with no bond as the result of his initial hearing with the District Court Commissioner, Worrell said.
Graham's bond review is scheduled for Monday at 1:15pm at the District Court in Bel Air.
Mr. Ward, the victim, appears to have grown up in northern Harford County and was a 1999 graduate of North Harford High School, according to news archives of The Aegis.
The area where Mr. Ward was killed is an apartment and townhouse community off Route 22 just outside the Bel Air town limits, between John Carroll High School and the Greenbrier Shopping Center.
Check back with http://www.exploreharford.com for updates and see Wednesday's print edition of The Aegis.