Playground stabbing tragically occurred as a 12-year-old boy in Kentwood, Mich. stabbed and killed a 9-year-old boy at a playground in western Michigan. The 12-year-old is currently being charged with open murder after the deadly playground stabbing Monday night. Police are still investigating the possible motive behind the attack. 

According to USA Today, police and witnesses said the 9-year-old, Michael Conner Verkerke, was stabbed in the back repeatedly. The playground stabbing occurred behind the Pinebrook Village mobile park in Kentwood, Mich., just outside of Grand Rapids.

Myfoxdetroit.com reports that the western Michigan community of Kentwood where the playground stabbing happened is now trying to grasp the killing that happened in a place where children are supposed to find joy.

According to Verkerke's neighbours, after the playground stabbing, the 9-year-old was still fighting for his life. As he ran towards his home, he was screaming before he collapsed bleeding on his porch.

Minutes after the playground stabbing and the 12-year-old surrendered, Verkerke tried to stay alive. Medics were called in later after the suspect called 911. However, Verkerke did not make it and he died at a hospital Monday evening after the playground stabbing.

According to investigators, the suspect used a neighbor's phone to call 911 and turn himself in.

Myfoxdetroit.com reports that the 12-year-old stabber has been identified as Jamarion Lawhorn. He was charged as an adult for the playground stabbing which turned ended up a murder and killed the young Verkerke.

50-year-old Barb Poelman was one of the neighbours.

Poelman said, 'We were sitting on our deck. We heard the kids run across the front ... screaming. He (Michael) ran with the kids that were with him.'

He also told the AP on Tuesday, 'The kids, I thought they were just playing. They're always out there playing.'

Poelman added that a little later after the playground stabbing, the victim's mother lay on the grass outside their home and pleaded for help.

Poelman said, 'She was screaming 'Where is the ambulance?' while her boy was laying on the porch bleeding. The kids, I thought they were just playing.'

According to USA Today, before the playground stabbing, witnesses told investigators they saw four children originally playing at the playground. Lawhorn later appeared for unknown reasons. He allegedly just pulled a knife and started stabbing the young boy.

Glenn Stacy was a neighbour from whom Lawhorn borrowed the phone to call 911 after the playground stabbing.

According to Stacy, the 12-year-old borrowed his phone shortly after the playground stabbing.

Stacy said, 'I was getting my ladder, and this young man came and asked me if he could use my phone. I gave him my phone, and I heard him tell the 911 operator.'

He also detailed what Lawhorn said to police who responded to the playground stabbing, 'I just stabbed someone. Come and get me. I want to die.' It was just a sad situation.'

Stacy said he stayed with Lawhorn after the playground stabbing. He waited until police arrived at the place where Verkerke had collapsed.

After the playground stabbing and Lawhorn called police, Stacy said he saw the boy was unusually "very calm."

Stacey told myfoxdetroit.com, 'Just calmly just started doing what I normally do. I didn't want to agitate the kid, make sure he didn't run away, give time for the police to actually show up. But very calmly, he stood there.'

Stacy said that the only time the 12-year-old raised his voice after the playground stabbing was when police arrived at the mobile home park.

He said, 'The only time he raised his voice was when the police came.' Stacy explained that police first went to aid the playground stabbing victim. However, the 12-year-old caught their attention as Lawhorn yelled, 'Hello. I'm right here. You're going the wrong way.'

Stacy described the scene as a sad one to behold.

According to USA Today, Lawhorn's attorney said the boy pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in family court and juvenile court during a hearing Tuesday afternoon for the playground stabbing. He was reportedly ordered to be held in a juvenile detention center until his hearing on Aug. 13 next week.


According to Boekeloo, Lawhorn is also undergoing a mental health evaluation to determine if the suspect for the playground stabbing is competent to stand trial.

Laura Clifton, assistant Kent County Prosecutor said the 12-year-old suspect for the playground stabbing would be charged as an adult. If found guilty, Chris Becker, chief assistant prosecutor for Kent County said he could be sentenced as a juvenile and then as an adult once he turns 21 since he is designated as an adult in the juvenile court system.

Meanwhile, Kentwood Police Chief Thomas Hillen said the motive for the playground stabbing is still being investigated. However, investigators posit that the playground stabbing may be a random attack.

According to the Associated Press, a man who identified himself as Verkerke's grandfather declined to comment after calls were made to a phone number listed for his home.

Playground stabbing in Michigan had residents quite shaken up. The AP reports that residents and strangers gathered near where the playground stabbing occurred Tuesday night to hold a vigil and pray. Friends, family and the young boy's Boy Scout troop reportedly came out to remember him.