AZ - Elijah Alamin, 17, stabbed to death for listening to rap music, Peoria, July 2019 *arrest*

[AzPistonsGirl]

PD: 17-year-old stabbed, killed at Peoria Circle K

Looked but did not find this sad case listed here. There is a lot to this case - mental illness, correction systems in AZ, racial issues, it's got it all. Beautiful kid.

Alamin, was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:05 a.m.

Police identified the suspect as 27-year-old Michael Adams.

Police could not initially identify a relation between Alamin and Adams, "as there [did] not appear to be any relation between the two and no known motive."

Court documents obtained by ABC15 show that Adams allegedly told detectives the teen "did not do anything to threaten him" and "the victim did not say anything to threaten him."

Adams allegedly later admitted to detectives that he heard Alamin listening to "rap music in the parking lot" through the victim's window.

"Rap music makes him [Adams] feel unsafe, because in the past he has been attacked... by people who listen to rap music," Adams continued to tell detectives.

Adams allegedly told detectives the "rap music," not the victim, made him feel "threatened," and Adams needed to be "proactive rather than reactive... [and to] protect himself and the community from the victim."

Adams was arrested near the crime scene after allegedly admitting to police he was involved in the stabbing, with blood on his clothes and body and a pocket knife in his possession.

https://www.theroot.com/police-white-man-reportedly-killed-teenager-because-te-1836150008

Arizona teen allegedly killed for playing rap music; civil rights advocates want hate-crime probe

Lots of other links.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

Michael Paul Adams: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com

Mother of teen killed inside Circle K speaks out

FROM FOX10's article: (Sorry, this one is going to be ugly - can't imagine a civil dialog about this murder.)

We spoke to Al-Amin's heartbroken mother who says there's no excuse for what happened to her son.

That excuse Serina Rides is talking about is mental illness. The suspect's attorney says he didn't have any medication when he was released from prison on Tuesday. But the mother of Al-Amin says the defense is just disguising a hate crime.

A mother's instinct kicked in early Thursday morning. For Rides, her world was rocked by the news. Peoria Police say 27-year-old Michael Adams walked up to her son, 17-year-old Elijah Al-Amin, as he stood at the soda machine inside a Circle K. Then police say Adams slit the teen's throat from behind.


Dude slit Elijah's throat. Stabbing wasn't enough. Ugh.

 

[YESorNO]

Death penalty decision in Peoria rap music murder could take months (with clip)

JULY 11, 2019

"PHOENIX – It’s too early to tell if prosecutors will seek the death penalty for a man accused of fatally stabbing a West Valley teenager because he reportedly felt threatened by the rap music the youth was listening to, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said Thursday.

A day earlier, a grand jury indicted Michael Paul Adams on a first-degree murder charge in the July 4 killing of 17-year-old Elijah Al-Amin at a Peoria convenience store.

If convicted of the charge, Adams will be sentenced to life in prison without parole or death by lethal injection.
The attorney for Adams has said her client, who was released from prison two days before Al-Amin was killed, is mentally ill.

During a press conference Thursday, Montgomery said, as with all first-degree-murder cases, prosecutors will conduct a review to determine if they will seek the death penalty....

Under state law, prosecutors have 60 days to file their intent to seek the death penalty, but Montgomery anticipates the deadline being extended through an agreement with the defendant...."

https://ktar.com/story/2651237/death-penalty-decision-in-peoria-rap-music-murder-could-take-months/
---

Press conferece 7 11 19

 

[YESorNO]

Elijah Al-Amin’s Father Slams ‘Mental Illness ‘ Defense As The Killer Is Indicted
Elijah Al-Amin was killed because of his rap music.

July 12, 2019

"On July 4, Elijah Al-Amin was fatally stabbed by 27-year-old Michael Paul Adams. The child was killed all because he was listening to hip hop music. Adams’ attorney tried to use the excuse he was mentally “disabled,” which clearly didn’t resonate with the court. He has now been charged.

“I don’t care what mental health issues you have. You know right from wrong,” Raheen Al-Amin, Elijah’s father said, according to NBC. The court saw it that way as well. Michael Paul Adams was indicted on a first-degree murder charge...."

Elijah Al-Amin’s Father Slams ‘Mental Illness ‘ Defense As The Killer Is Indicted

 

[LietKynes]

During a press conference Thursday, Montgomery said, as with all first-degree-murder cases, prosecutors will conduct a review to determine if they will seek the death penalty....

Under state law, prosecutors have 60 days to file their intent to seek the death penalty, but Montgomery anticipates the deadline being extended through an agreement with the defendant...."

Snipped for brevity.
Bolding mine.

Well this monstrous perp is the poster child for the D.P.
I say let him have it.

Slit the boy's throat from behind as the teen stood in front of the soda machine ??
Because of some music the perp didn't like ?
That's as if someone murdered me -- because I like to listen to Dvorak's New World Symphony.
Exactly the same.

Some people like Michael Adams have proven that they're no longer fit to walk this earth with the rest of us.

Rest in eternal peace, Elijah !
My condolences to his grieving family.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

thank you both @LietKynes and @YESorNO for your outrage and/or interest and/or compassion, and for your visit to Elijah's thread. I (sadly) look forward to your trial coverage here @YESorNO!

 

[YESorNO]

Mental illness may play role in Adams trial

July 18, 2019

"...In a case of first-degree murder, there are only two possible outcomes — life in prison or the death penalty. There is talk within the case of mental health playing a factor in the charging of Adams, and Montgomery acknowledged this.

“I will just simply say that (mental illness) is an issue — obviously that is something we will have to address in this process.”

He continued by saying the criminal justice system is flawed in how it handles mental illness and needs to be revised on the societal level. He clarified this is in general and does not pertain solely to this particular case.

“The designation of someone who may have a mental illness and requires treatment doesn’t always occur within the criminal justice system because of the wide variety of mental illnesses that people can present with,” Montgomery said. “This is an area where we, as a society, have to get better at developing modes and methods of treatment and community-based treatment rather than relying on the criminal justice system to be the default provider.”

He quickly directed his statements back to the victim.

“I think the conversation about mental health can take place outside of the context of this particular case,” Montgomery said. “I want to stay focused on what happened to Elijah. We’ve got no evidence at this point that this individual is associated with any white supremacist group or any other groups similar to that, and we haven’t seen anything that suggests this individual has adopted white supremacist ideology or proclaimed anything like that.”..."

Mental illness may play role in Adams trial

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

Beat me to it. Thanks @YESorNO!

 

[YESorNO]

Peoria murder suspect pleads not guilty to fatally stabbing teen over rap music

July 18, 2019

"The man accused of killing a 17-year-old boy in a Peoria Circle K because he felt threatened by the teen's rap music has pleaded not guilty.

Michael Paul Adams, 27, appeared in Maricopa County Superior Court briefly Thursday for arraignment proceedings. He spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth. His voice was clear and emotionless.

Adams is scheduled to appear in court next on Aug. 29 for an initial pre-trial conference...."

Peoria murder suspect pleads not guilty to fatally stabbing teen over rap music

 

[YESorNO]

Video: Man accused of killing 17-year-old yanked from the courtroom by detention officer

September 5, 2019

"The man accused stabbing 17-year-old Elijah Al-Amin to death at a Peoria Circle K appeared in court Thursday.

Michael Paul Adams' appearance in court was a pretrial conference hearing. He's charged with first-degree murder. Al-Amin was killed just before his 18th birthday....

But what was supposed to be a standard hearing Thursday ended with Adams in what appeared to be a scuffle with a detention officer.

The judge in Adams' pretrial conference hearing had just gaveled the hearing to an end. Adams stood to leave court when his actions caught the attention of the detention officer. A video from inside the courtroom shows Adams yelling something to someone across the room.

After some pushing and pulling the officer got Adams out of the court."

Video: Man accused of killing 17-year-old yanked from the courtroom by detention officer



12 News
✔@12News
The man accused of stabbing a 17-year-old to death at a Peoria Circle K appeared in court Thursday, where he was yanked from the courtroom by a detention officer.

(video clip: 12 News on Twitter )

 

[BlackCloud]

This man is clearly mentally ill....I mean you can't kill somebody just because they're listening to some music you don't like
I don't think he will be sentenced to death...prolly they'll send him in some place for criminals with severe mental problems...

 

[JerseyGirl]

Accused Circle K stabber declared incompetent to stand trial

 

[ifindedout]

Michael Paul Adams died in jail on April 17, 2021.

'It cuts me to the core:' Arizona murder suspect's in-custody death ruled 'natural'

Both the suspect's and victim's families blame healthcare providers for failing to give Michael Adams mental health care.

www.12news.com

The memory is stuck in Paul Adam's mind.

"I remember it very clearly," he said. "It was a day before I got a knock at the door telling me he was dead."

His son, Michael Adams, died at 29 years old after he was found unresponsive in his cell at the Fourth Avenue jail back in April.

[...]

Michael Adams had been in custody since July 2019 after police arrested him for stabbing 17-year-old Elijah Al Amin to death outside a Circle K in Peoria.

[...]

The medical examiner ruled it was natural, likely caused by cardiac arrhythmia. An MCSO deputy first noticed during morning rounds on April 17, and called for help when Adams didn’t get up.