Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — A teen arrested for the July stabbing death of his father has been released. The State Attorney General (FGE) of Quintana Roo has concluded their investigation of a domestic violence call that left one person dead.
On July 20, police were called to the private community of Paseso de Xcacel around 4:00 p.m. in response to domestic violence reports that lead to a stabbing. At the scene, police found an adult male laying dead near a security booth.
FGE head Raciel López Salazar reported that the case is not a homicide, but rather an unfortunate accident in an act of defense of his mother and himself. According to their investigation, the teenager was cutting food in the kitchen when he heard cries from his mother.
He hurried to help her, still carrying the kitchen knife when he saw his father physically assaulting her. According to Salazar, the father was intoxicated and violent and attempted to also attack the young man, which lead to a struggle.
During the struggle, the father grabbed the kitchen knife from his son and accidently fell over the balcony. Upon landing on the ground below, the knife became lodged in his neck. Despite being seriously injured, he managed to walk to the entrance of the private residence to the security booth where he collapsed. Police found him laying dead next to the security booth.
“The young man did not flee. He remained at the scene and at all times showed a willingness to cooperate with the authorities. He is his father, and unfortunately, it was a tragedy,” Salazar stated.
Salazar clarified that the woman involved is his stepmother and the father is his biological father, not a stepfather as previously reported.
Salazar said their investigation concluded that the young man acted in legitimate defense of his stepmother and her personal safety. “This is not a case of parricide. It was an act of self-defense and a tragic accident,” the prosecutor reiterated.
The teen will not face charges.
The FGE of Quintana Roo emphasized its commitment to pursuing justice with a child-friendly perspective and a human rights approach, especially in cases where minors are immersed in domestic violence.
