Boy arrested in stabbing death of brother, faces assault charge

A 12-year-old boy has been arrested by Memphis police for allegedly stabbing his older brother to death over the weekend.

The boy, however, has not been charged with homicide in the killing, and instead is facing a charge of aggravated assault/domestic violence that resulted in death, Memphis Police Department spokesman Karen Rudolph said.

It’s unclear why he isn’t facing a homicide charge, but both Memphis police and the Shelby County district attorney general referred questions to Juvenile Court. Juvenile Court Chief Administrative Officer Pam Skelton referred questions back to the D.A.

The incident began a little after 6:30 p.m. Sunday when Salena Mathena flagged down police officers at Frayser Boulevard. She told police that her son had been stabbed and was inside her car, Rudolph said.

Police found 15-year-old Tony Mathena unresponsive in the car and tried to give him first aid. Paramedics arrived and also delivered medical aid, but the teenager family called “Lil’ Tony” died on the scene, Rudolph said.

An investigation revealed the victim got into an argument with his younger brother in their home in the 3600 block of Brookmeade Street, where the stabbing occurred.

The 1 2-yea r- old was ordered held in a detention hearing Tuesday afternoon that was closed to the media.

Reached at her home Tuesday, Mathena declined to comment.

While records are unclear, this would seem to be one of the youngest suspects charged with a homicide in Memphis. In April 2014, a 13-year-old boy shot his sister to death at their Whitehaven home. He was charged with felony reckless endangerment and unlawful possession of a weapon.

This marks at least the second death attributed to a teenager in less than six weeks. On Dec. 23, 14-year-old Antonio Evans allegedly beat 6-year-old foster child Destine King in a Cordova home. She died a few days later, and Evans has been charged with first-degree murder in her death.