Syosset teen, 17, charged with second-degree murder in stabbing death of Liam Delemo, 15, at house party

A Suffolk County judge ordered a 17-year-old Syosset teen remanded to jail without bail Monday after he was charged in the fatal stabbing last week of a West Babylon teen.

The teen appeared in court Monday where he pleaded not guilty in Suffolk County District Youth Court to a second-degree murder charge in the killing of 15-year-old Liam Delemo. The defendant's parents sat sobbing in the front row.

Delemo's grandfather and more than three dozen West Babylon students dressed in black sat in the courtroom during the arraignment. Some students wore T-shirts and pendants with the victim's picture.

"These are very serious charges that you're facing," Judge Karen Kerr told the defendant. "The victim was stabbed multiple times."

If convicted, he could face 25 years to life in prison, Kerr said. The teen is initially being prosecuted as a juvenile, but prosecutors said they will ask to have the case transferred to criminal court, where he would be charged as an adult. 

Prosecutors said the defendant came to the West Babylon party, which about 100 teens attended, from Syosset with two friends. They were told to leave the party about 10:15 p.m.

Authorities said video from the party showed the defendant yelling from in front of the house to "come outside," as he was trying to get the attention of a 14-year-old girl and threatening partygoers.

Delemo tackled the teen in the front yard, Assistant District Attorney Sheetal Shetty said. They began fighting on the ground when prosecutors said the defendant pulled a large knife from his waistband and stabbed Delemo multiple times, Shetty said in court.

Delemo suffered severe stab wounds to his arm and abdomen that severed his pancreas and colon, Shetty said. He was taken to Good Samaritan University Hospital where he died during surgery, Shetty said.

"Liam suffered catastrophic injuries caused by a large knife pushed into him with great force," Shetty said.

The defendant was seen waving the knife, described as a dagger, outside the house yelling, "Come at me! If you don't want me to come to your party then don't put it in your story," Shetty said.

The teen fled with a friend, who was also charged with hindering prosecution, and they crashed into a parked car. They drove to the end of a dead-end street in front of an off-duty police officer's house before they ran away, Shetty said.

The two teens later called an Uber, "acknowledging the stabbing but told the driver to just drive," Shetty said. Prosecutors said the defendant's friend told him to get rid of the knife, but he took it home.

Police served a search warrant at the defendant's home Monday morning where they recovered clothing and two knives, including one that matched the description of the weapon, Shetty said

The defendant's attorney, Jacob Kaplan, denied the charges and said he had contacted Suffolk County homicide detectives to arrange for the teen to surrender to police Monday morning.

Prosecutors described the defendant as an accomplished high school wrestler, trained in martial arts. Kaplan said the defendant was also being attacked at the party where there were multiple fights prior to the stabbing.

"His confirmed community ties are extremely strong and support bail. His parents are here and this shows they're looking to address allegations seriously. No one is looking to run away," Kaplan said. "This wasn't a random act of violence. This was in response to a big party and altercations. They're not from the area and were told to leave. They were hit and pushed and physically attacked."

Police said the owner of the home where the party took place, identified as Bonnie Miranda, 70, was charged last week with a violation of Suffolk County's social host law, which holds adults accountable for permitting underage drinking on their property, and with endangering the welfare of a child. She was accused of allowing her grandchild, who was not named, to hold the party at her home.

Delemo was an 11th grader at West Babylon High School and, following the boy's death, school Principal Stephen O’Leary posted a letter to families and students, noting the school would provide "social workers, psychologists, counselors, teachers and administrators" to offer comfort and guidance "during this time of need."

Delemo's parents, Mike Delemo and Hope Wisun-Delemo, last week recalled how their son had been a perennial honor student loved by all who knew him.

"You can ask any of his friends," Mike Delemo said. "He could go anywhere and he fit right in. Everybody loved him. ... The person who did this knows they did this. They know. And, they can’t hide."

The family learned of the arrest as they were paying final respects to Liam at a visitation in Lindenhurst Monday, said the boy's grandfather, William Delemo, outside First District Court in Central Islip later.

Wearing a red-and-gold U.S. Marines jacket, William Delemo said he was still processing the grief.

"I'm numb. I go way back and I'm a Marine. I've seen plenty of death and I'll move on, but right now I want to see what we've got here," Delemo said.

He described his grandson as an "A" student and an only child. Delemo said the arrest in the case was important to the family, but he was upset the defendant was not being charged as an adult.

"He would help anybody, which he was helping during the fight. He was helping his friend," Delemo said. "He was a good kid."