71°F
weather icon Clear

Playground stabbing victim’s last words about love for family

KENTWOOD, Mich. — A relative says some of the last words from a 9-year-old boy who died after being stabbed on a Michigan playground were about how much he loved his family.

The Grand Rapids Press reports that Jim Stearns spoke for Michael Connor Verkerke’s family at a vigil Wednesday night at the site of the attack, for which a 12-year-old is charged with murder.

Stearns said the 9-year-old told his brother after he was stabbed that he would always love him. Stearns told those gathered for the vigil at the Pinebrook Village mobile home park that the boy’s death has left the family “absolutely numb.”

The 12-year-old boy pleaded not guilty in juvenile court and was ordered held until an Aug. 13 preliminary hearing. The Associated Press is not naming him.

THE LATEST
Trucks carrying aid for Gaza Strip cross new US pier

The shipment is the first in an operation that American military officials anticipate could scale up to 150 truckloads a day.

House votes to require delivery of bombs to Israel

The Biden administration this month put on hold a weapons shipment of 3,500 bombs that are capable of killing hundreds in populated areas.

Israel says it will send more troops to Rafah

Israel’s defense minister says more troops will be sent into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where the military says it has destroyed Hamas tunnels and killed dozens of terrorists.