Inset: Reginald "RJ" Harrell (Facebook). Background: The McDonald's in Cypress, Texas, where Reginald "RJ" Harrell was killed (Harris County Constable, Precinct 4).
A Texas teen is in jail after police arrested him for allegedly stabbing another teenager to death.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office said a 16-year-old male suspect was charged with murder in connection with the death of 17-year-old Reginald "RJ" Harrell. RJ, who was identified by his family during an interview with local CBS affiliate KHOU, was working at a McDonald's restaurant in Cypress, Texas, on Wednesday night when he reportedly got into a fight with the suspect. In a post on Facebook, Harris County Constable, Precinct 4, said police responded to calls about a stabbing and found RJ in the bathroom with multiple stab wounds.
RJ was pronounced dead at the scene, and the suspect was taken into custody.
Police confirmed that RJ and the suspect worked together. RJ's family told KHOU that on the night he was killed, he was not supposed to be working.
Details about why the two teenagers were fighting have not been made public. The teenage suspect is currently in custody at the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center.
In an interview with KHOU, RJ's mother, Denisha Dennis, said of her youngest child, "He did not have to go out like this. He didn't have to be murdered. He did not deserve this at all." She added, "I want the kid responsible. I want justice for my son."
RJ's sister, Kourtnee Dennis, told KHOU, "I would have never thought that the last time he walked out my door to go to work would be the last time that I see him and talk to him."
The McDonald's where both teens worked was temporarily closed following RJ's death. In a statement obtained by KHOU, McDonald's owner-operator Michael Gutierrez said, "We are saddened by this tragedy, and our hearts are with the victim's loved ones and all those impacted. Right now, our focus is on the well-being of our restaurant employees, and supporting them as they process these events."