Video Shows Fatal School Fight
Teen Fatally Stabbed At Coral Gables High School
POSTED: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
UPDATED: 5:03 am EST November 11,2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office on Tuesday released surveillance video and a taped confession in the case of a teen's fatal stabbing at Coral Gables Senior High School.
Juan Carlos Rivera, 17, died after being stabbed Sept. 15 on the campus of the school. Another student, 17-year-old Andy Rodriguez, faces an adult charge of second-degree murder in Rivera's death. Rodriguez's family has claimed that he acted in self-defense.
The videos paint a pictures of two teenagers in a macho fight that ended in a killing. The school surveillance video showed clearly the animosity between Rivera, a sophomore, and Rodriguez, a senior. The bumps and shoves between the teens spilled into the courtyard of the high school.
The video does not clearly show the knife Rodriguez allegedly pulled or the actual stabbing of Rivera. A surveillance camera inside the school showed Rodriguez running, pulling off his shirt. The cameras in the courtyard show horrified students.
Another video shows police interviewing Rodriguez after the stabbing. The story Rodriguez told a detective in Spanish later that day revealed days and possibly weeks of bad blood between the boys and that Rivera was not only getting rides to school from Rodriguez's girlfriend, but taunting him, as well.
"Do you know of any reason he would bump into you? Was it accidental or intentional?" the detective asked.
"Maybe it was an accident, but the way he looks at me in school is not an accident," Rodriguez said in Spanish.
Rodriguez said he found the knife on the streets and took it to school that day just in case.
"Why would you have to bring a knife to school?" the detective asked.
"Because if he attacks me first," Rodriguez said in Spanish.
The surveillance video and taped confession have become evidence in discovery.
Previous Stories: - October 7, 2009: Stabbing Suspect Appears In Adult Court
- October 7, 2009: Stabbing Suspect To Be Charged As Adult
- October 2, 2009: Slain Student's Family Threatens Lawsuit
- September 22, 2009: Slain Student Laid To Rest
- September 21, 2009: Viewing Held For Slain Student
- September 19, 2009: Mother Of Slain Student Arrives In U.S.
- September 18, 2009: Vigil Planned For Slain Student
- September 18, 2009: Victim's Mother To Come To Miami
- September 17, 2009: Rep. Helps Victim's Mother Get Visa
- September 17, 2009: Suspect's Family Claims Self Defense
- September 16, 2009: Student Stabbed To Death At High School
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