Milford teen charged in fatal stabbing in Shelton

16-year-old held on $2M bond in death of Fairfield Prep junior James McGrath, 17

SHELTON — Police on Wednesday arrested a Milford teen on a murder charge in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Fairfield Prep student James McGrath.

Police said the 16-year-old was also charged with three counts of assault in connection with the incident, which sent three other people to the hospital.

Shelton police said the teen, who is a student at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, was arrested Wednesday and is being held on $2 million bond. He was arraigned in New Haven Juvenile Court on Wednesday. The case was expected to be transferred to adult court.

Police said the teen will have an

appearance in Derby court Thursday before the case is transferred to Milford court.

The charges follow the stabbing death of McGrath, a Shelton resident and student at Fairfield College Preparatory School. McGrath and three other youths suffered stab wounds during an altercation Saturday at a gathering on Laurel Glen Drive in Shelton, police said.

Around 11:55 p.m., police and paramedics were called to a home for a reported fight and stabbing, Shelton police said this week. At the scene, authorities found “numerous teenagers outside of a residence,” including four victims who had been stabbed, police said.

The four victims were hospitalized and McGrath was later pronounced dead, police said. Neighbors in the quiet neighborhood said the family living at the home where the incident occurred mostly kept to themselves. Though it was not unusual for there to be gatherings, which neighbors said sometimes got “a little loud,” it was never enough to be considered disruptive or bothersome, according to John Misurale, who lives next door.

“I was shocked,” he said of hearing about the stabbing. “I was at home but I didn't know what had happened.”

In a statement Monday, Fairfield Prep officials said the school community “mourns the loss of junior Jimmy McGrath and we extend our deepest sympathies to the McGrath family.”

“Jimmy was a beloved student and athlete on the football and lacrosse teams, and will forever be a member of the Prep Brotherhood,” the school's statement said.

More than 1,000 people gathered at a private prayer service on campus Sunday, the school said, followed by a service Monday where President Christian Cash2man addressed students, faculty and staff.

“May God bless Jimmy McGrath, Class of 2023, forever a man for others, forever a son of Fairfield Prep,” Cashman said.

In a statement posted on the St. Joseph High Facebook page, the school also offered its support to the Fairfield Prep community.

“St. Joseph High School holds the Fairfield Prep School Community close to our hearts and in our prayers,” the post said. “There are no words to properly describe such sadness in the wake of this devastating and profound loss of young life filled with such great promise. We call upon our community to offer prayers for the Fairfield Prep Community and the McGrath family as they grieve the death of a student and cherished classmate.”

In a statement, Bridgeport Diocese Bishop Frank Caggiano offered condolences to McGrath's family “at this most troubling and distressing moment.”

The bishop asked for prayers “for all those affected by this sudden loss and unthinkable tragedy.”

“The incident is under investigation, and there is much we do not know about the circumstances,” he said. “However, we do know it has left a deep and lasting trauma for the families and for the Fairfield Prep students and many others who must deal with their grief and shock in the coming day.”

A GoFundMe page to support the family showed McGrath wearing a No. 7 Prep lacrosse jersey and posing with his stick. It had raised more than $115,000 as of Wednesday evening.

“We love you forever Jimmy,” it said.

James McGrath