A teenage suspect pleaded not guilty in connection with the fatal stabbing of another teen in Dorchester on Sunday.
Amari Pope, 16, was arraigned in Dorchester Municipal Court on Monday.
Assistant District Attorney Gregory Henning said 15-year-old Deon Hopkins and a teenage girl became involved in a verbal altercation near the intersection of Columbia Road and Devon Street around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Pope, who was also there, allegedly left the scene, went into his home and returned with a kitchen knife.
According to police, Pope stabbed Hopkins and followed him across the street. Hopkins then allegedly collapsed in front of a nearby market. Surveillance video allegedly shows Pope circling the body still carrying the knife. Pole then allegedly left the area and changed his clothing.
A witness who had incorrectly heard that Hopkins was shot called 911. Boston Police and EMS responded to the scene and Hopkins was rushed to Boston Medical Center, where he died of a stab wound to the chest.
According to police, Pope allegedly made statements to a family member that he "did something stupid." The statements suggested that he had a violent altercation with Hopkins and may have killed him, police said.
Those statements were relayed to Boston Police homicide detectives.
A vigil organized by Hopkins’ friends was held in Dorchester Monday night. Friends remembered Hopkins as a "good kid" who loved making people laugh. He would have turned 16 in five weeks.
Pope will return to court on March 30.
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