Friends’ quarrel led to Fort Myers stabbing

FORT MYERS, Fla. It was a dispute between two teens who knew each other well that led to a deadly stabbing early Saturday morning, the victim’s family said.

Casino Hill Jr., of Fort Myers, is accused of stabbing and killing 16-year-old Jimmie Matthews on the 4000 block of Ballard Road. Hill faces a homicide charge, according to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.

Minevra Shortridge, Matthews’ mother, said she treated Hill like a son, sometimes letting him sleep on her couch. But she had pointed words for Hill on Sunday after she and other family members said they witnessed the stabbing.

“You killed my son,” Shortridge said. “Ain’t no way around it, you killed my son for nothing!”

The incident happened around 12:49 a.m., officials said.

Hill and Matthews were attending a party where the two got into an argument, according to witness testimony from sheriff’s detective Jason McHenry.

Matthews’ sister, Letara Giles, and godsister, Takeyla Hallmon, said they were in a car with Hill and Matthews when the dispute began with a comment Matthews made to Hill’s girlfriend.

Matthews was best friends with Hill’s girlfriend, the family said. Matthews pulled over and asked Hill to get out of the car, Giles and Hallmon said.

Hill asked his girlfriend if she would be staying with him or with Matthews, and she said she’d stay with Matthews, Giles and Shortridge said.

Hill then stabbed Matthews, Giles and Shortridge said.

Hill and Matthews agreed to fight without weapons, but Hill took out a pocket knife and stuck it in Matthews’ chest, McHenry said.

Matthews picked up a brick paver and retaliated by throwing it at Hill, McHenry said.

Matthews was taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Hill was found at a 7-Eleven on the 1000 block of Ortiz Avenue, according to deputies, and was taken to the Lee County Jail.

Hill’s attorney argued in court Sunday that he was acting in self-defense, but Matthews’ family disputes that.

“This was not an accident, Hallmon said. “This was something that was planned that none of us had knowledge of because the, not saying names, but we just got information that he planned on doing it. He stole the knife from Wal-Mart and said that he felt like doing, killing someone.”

Hill is not facing any theft-related charge. He will be held without bond until the start of his trial June 19.