Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Teen remains held in fatal Willmar stabbing

WILLMAR, Minn. (AP) — A study will be conducted to determine if a 17-year-old boy should be tried as an adult in the stabbing death of a Willmar college football player.

Judge Jon Stafsholt ordered the certification study be completed within 30 days, and the boy remain at Prairie Lakes Youth Programs.

The teen made his first appearance Tuesday on a second-degree murder charge in Kandiyohi County District Court.

According to the petition, the teen was in a group that went to an apartment complex in Willmar early Sunday. There the boy had an altercation with 21-year-old Adam Milton, during which racial slurs were exchanged. Both the teen and Milton are African-American.

Witnesses said punches were thrown and the boy ran from Milton, who caught him. During a scuffle, the Ridgewater College football player was stabbed twice in the chest. He died at a Willmar hospital.

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