By Francisco Real Ramirez, April 27, 2025
HANFORD, CA — A 17-year-old male was fatally stabbed Saturday evening outside of Kohl’s at the Hanford Mall, according to the Hanford Police Department.
Authorities said officers were dispatched around 5:30 p.m. on April 26, 2025, following multiple 911 calls reporting a stabbing incident. Witnesses told dispatchers that a male had sustained a stab wound and appeared unresponsive, while a group of juveniles was seen fleeing the area.
Upon arrival, patrol officers located the 17-year-old victim on the walkway outside Kohl’s. He had suffered a single stab wound to the neck. Officers rendered aid, but emergency personnel later pronounced the victim deceased at the scene.
Additional responding units canvassed the area after receiving reports that several individuals were seen running north from the mall parking lot. Officers, with assistance from the Kings County Sheriff’s Office, located and detained a group of males near the Kings County Superior Court.
Hanford Police detectives and Street Crimes investigators obtained video footage capturing the incident, which revealed the victim was stabbed from behind. A 15-year-old male, part of the detained group, was identified as the suspect. Authorities reported that multiple items recovered from the juvenile further implicated him in the homicide.
The exact motive for the stabbing remains unclear; however, officials confirmed that a verbal altercation had occurred between the victim and the group of juveniles inside the mall shortly before the attack.
The 15-year-old suspect was booked into the Kings County Juvenile Center on one charge of murder (PC 187).
Anyone with additional information about the case is urged to contact the Hanford Police Department at (559) 585-2540. The case number is H2501597.
Since the suspect is under the age of 18, do you believe the parents should also be held legally responsible for the crime? What are your thoughts?
