A high school football captain has been charged with fatally stabbing his lover with a steak knife after an argument over ending their relationship.
Bloomfield High School student Tarence Mitchell appeared in court Friday to face a murder charge in the death of 27-year-old Ronald Taylor Jr. Mitchell is being held on $1 million bond.
According to court documents, the 18-year-old Mitchell initially told investigators that the pair was attacked by two men wearing hoodies but later confessed to the crime.
Mitchell told police that the two had a sexual relationship and that Taylor gave him marijuana and alcohol over the last two years, according to court papers. When Mitchell tried to end their relationship at the end of last year, “Taylor posted a picture of him on Facebook that included a blog of bad things about him, including him being a Bloomfield gay football star,” the documents said.
Mitchell also said Taylor got jealous when he texted girls and threatened him with a sword this week, according to the court papers.
On Thursday, Taylor told Mitchell he was coming over, and Mitchell stuck a knife in his pocket in case he needed to protect himself, the papers said. Mitchell said the attack began when Taylor struck him in the face; Mitchell then stabbed Taylor five times with the knife, which remained in Taylor’s back until he pulled it out himself, the papers said.
Jackie Harris, a cousin of Taylor’s, said the family is heartbroken over his death.
“My aunt can’t even focus,” she said. “He’s the baby out of three kids.”
Mitchell’s mother expressed her condolences to Taylor’s family but said the charges didn’t mesh with what she knew of her son.
“My son is a good kid. He’s never been in trouble,” Tyra Smith said, her voice breaking. “My son is not a murderer.”
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