Man Reportedly Stabbed Arizona Teen to Death for Listening to Rap Music
Written by SOURCE on July 8, 2019
An Arizona man reportedly killed a teenager for listening to rap music at a Peoria gas station. Local authorities say that 17-year-old Elijah Al-Amin was stabbed in the neck by 27-year-old Michael Adams outside of a Circle K.
Al-Amin was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Adams was arrested nearby and is currently being held on $1 million bail.
According to Fox 10, Adams told authorities that he had been attacked in the past by people who listened to rap music and that he felt the need to attack Al-Amin before the teen could kill him. Adams’ lawyer claimed he is mentally ill and should not have been released from custody for previous assaults, all against strangers.
“They released him to the streets with no medication, no meds, with no way to care for himself. This is a failing of the Department of Corrections. This is easily foreseeable and that is an issue,” attorney Jacie Cotterell said. “It’s too easy as a society to shake our head and say well, they committed a crime, it’s too bad, we have jails for that when really, what they need is treatment. They need a bed instead of a cell.”
Al-Amin’s mother isn’t a believer in that argument.
“There’s no excuse for this,” Serina Rides said. “There’s not at all, there’s no excuse. I don’t care that somebody’s hiding behind mental illness, there’s no excuse.”
Rides said she will seek justice for her child.
“I’m so numb and hurt to the core of my soul,” Rides said. “But I have to stay focused because I know that’s what he would want and to make sure justice is served for him.”
