CASPER, Wyo. — A 14-year-old boy lost his life while trying to protect his girlfriend from two masked teenagers at a shopping mall in Casper, Wyoming, authorities reported. The incident occurred at the Eastridge Mall on Sunday afternoon.
According to the criminal complaint, Bobby Maher rushed to the mall after his girlfriend called to say that two individuals, identified as Jarreth Plunkett and Dominique Harris, were allegedly following her and a friend. Maher tried to escort his girlfriend and her friend to safety, repeatedly telling Plunkett and Harris to leave.
Surveillance footage revealed that Maher was backing away from the two individuals, who were wearing hooded masks, when Plunkett confronted him, challenging him to fight. Harris then grabbed Maher and slammed him to the ground, repeatedly punching his face. Plunkett subsequently stabbed Maher with a kitchen knife.
The suspects quickly fled the scene and discarded the bloody knife and masks in the mall parking lot. They were apprehended shortly after. During questioning, Plunkett and Harris admitted to stealing the knife from a Target store in the mall.
According to a friend of Maher, the suspects attended the same middle school as the victim and were known as “JJ and Dom.” There had been a previous encounter between Maher and the suspects at a park before the fatal incident at the mall.
Plunkett has been charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault and battery, and theft. Harris is facing charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated assault and battery, and misdemeanor theft. Both individuals were charged as adults.
In their initial court hearing, Plunkett’s bond was set at $500,000, while Harris’s bond was set at $450,000.
The tragic incident has left the community in shock as they mourn the loss of Maher. Investigations are ongoing, and additional details may emerge as the case progresses.