12-year-old accused of stabbing sister was arguing over air conditioner, his lawyer says

A judge on Monday ordered a 12-year-old boy accused of stabbing his older sister to remain in the custody of juvenile authorities.

The young boy showed no emotion Monday afternoon as he was led away by juvenile officials after the brief detention hearing.

The 12-year-old who was detained by Fort Worth police late Saturday could have been released to his family after the hearing.

But Judge Tim Menikos ordered the juvenile to remain at the Tarrant County Juvenile Detention Center after listening to details of the attack.

The young boy had been held in detention after police say he repeatedly stabbed his 17-year-old sister in the neck and chest at their home at an apartment complex.

"She has been released from the hospital," Trent Loftin of Fort Worth, the boy's attorney, said Monday after the hearing. "I have not viewed all the reports, but what I've seen, I believe the two were arguing over an air conditioner."

Loftin declined to make any additional comments.

The name of the young boy was not being released because he is a juvenile.

He faces a charge of delinquent conduct/aggravated assault with a deadly weapon involving family violence, police said.

The 17-year-old was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital after the assault on Saturday and was listed in serious condition then, according to a MedStar spokesman.

The stabbing was reported shortly before 11:30 p.m. Saturday in the 5700 block of Meadowbrook Drive at the Delujo Spanish Village Apartment.

Police did not release a motive for the stabbing.

The juvenile was detained at the scene, police said.

This report includes information from Star-Telegram archives.

This story was originally published June 18, 2018 at 12:58 PM with the headline "12-year-old accused of stabbing sister was arguing over air conditioner, his lawyer says."