Police arrest 15-year-old in fatal stabbing of teen

Incident occurred outside elementary school in East Haven

A 15-year-old was charged Friday in the fatal stabbing of a North Branford teen outside an elementary school in East Haven in May, police said.

The suspect, who has not been identified because of his age, faces charges of first-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault in the May 23 killing of 15-year-old Dustin Cecarelli, according to the East Haven Police Department.

Following his arrest Friday the teen was taken to the Bridgeport

Juvenile Detention Center, where he was being held, police said.

“On behalf of the department, we continue to extend our deepest condolences to Dustin’s family and friends during this difficult time,” East Haven Chief of Police Ed Lennon said in a statement. “We hope this arrest is the beginning of the healing process.”

Cecarelli was killed in a stabbing outside Tuttle Elementary School in East Haven reported at about 6:28 p.m., when school was not in session. Cecarelli was a student in the North Branford school system.

East Haven police said Cecarelli was stabbed during a fight in a courtyard area outside of Tuttle.

Cecarelli was treated at the scene by officials from the East Haven Haven Fire Department before he was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he later died.

According to his obituary, Cecarelli loved music and writing and could often be seen journaling in one of his many notebooks. He also enjoyed baseball, basketball and riding his bike, his obituary said.

East Haven police on Friday said they would not be releasing any additional information.