Argument between teens led to death on Columbia Road, DA says

Amari Pope didn't like the way an argument between two other teens was going, so he went up to his Columbia Road apartment, got a kitchen knife and returned to plunge it into one of the teens, prosecutors said today.

Pope, 16, was ordered held without bail at his arraignment today for the murder of Deon Hopkins, five weeks shy of his 15th birthday, at the corner of Columbia and Devon Street yesterday afternoon. Under state law, he will be tried as an adult.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office:

Hopkins and a teenage girl became involved in a verbal altercation near the intersection of Columbia Road and Devon Street at about 4:30 yesterday afternoon. Pope, who was also present, allegedly left the scene, went into his Columbia Road home, and returned with a kitchen knife.

In the moments that followed, Pope stabbed the younger boy and pursued him across the street. Hopkins collapsed in front of a nearby market and surveillance video allegedly shows Pope circling his body still carrying the knife. Pope allegedly left the area and changed his clothing.

The DA's office added:

In the aftermath of the incident, Pope allegedly made statements to a family member that he “did something stupid.” The statements suggested that he had a violent altercation with the victim and may have killed him.

Innocent, etc.