Prep school lacrosse player’s accused killer found not guilty of murder

close Video

Murder defendant’s testimony of fear during violent teen brawl could sway at least one juror, expert says

Donna Rotunno, criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor, told Fox News Digital that Raul Valle’s self-defense claim could win him an acquittal as the jury in his trial remains deadlocked Wednesday.

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Raul Valle, accused of stabbing Fairfield, Connecticut prep school lacrosse player James “Jimmy” McGrath to death in March 2022, has been found not guilty on murder and intentional manslaughter charges. 

Valle was also acquitted of first- and second-degree intentional assault. The jury was deadlocked on charges of first-degree reckless manslaughter and first- and second-degree reckless assault. Judge Shari Murphy declared a mistrial on those deadlocked charges.

Valle, now 20, was tearful during an emotional reaction to the verdict. He was 16 when McGrath, 17, was stabbed to death during a booze-fueled teenage brawl following a house party. McGrath played lacrosse at Fairfield College Preparatory School. 

Raul Valle is sworn in to testify on the eighth day of his murder trial in state Superior Court in Milford, Connecticut, on June 30, 2025. (Ned Gerard/Connecticut Post)

Outside the courtroom, McGrath’s father, Kevin McGrath, reacted to the verdict with shock. 

“I’m astonished at the results, but, you know, it’s due process. [Valle] is entitled to it. And at the end of the day, the jury made their verdict,” he said. “I’m not sure if, you know, if they were in the same courtroom as we all were together, but that’s the verdict, and we’ll live with it.”

He described himself as “perhaps overconfident” that Valle would be convicted when he learned that the jury had returned a verdict. 

“I’m shocked. You know, it’s probably why I’m in control,” he said. “I’m shocked right now of the verdict.”

However, McGrath said the trial was fair. 

“Raul Valle received a fair trial,” he said. 

“I don’t believe Raul Valle woke up Saturday morning and said he was going to kill Jimmy McGrath. You know, I never believed that. They didn’t know each other. I’m just in shock that an innocent young man with a brilliant potential is not with us anymore. And the person that took his life is right now free tonight.”

McGrath thanked the first responders, investigators, the court and the media for conducting themselves professionally throughout the criminal justice process.

The family’s attorney, Michael Rosnick, mentioned in passing that the state could retry Valle on the lesser included charges where a mistrial was declared.

“There are lesser included charges,” he said. “I anticipate, we anticipate, that the state’s attorney’s office will file an information, but I’m going to let the state’s attorney’s office speak for itself.”

James “Jimmy” McGrath, a 17-year-old Fairfield College Preparatory School athlete, was stabbed to death at a house party in 2022. (Fairfield College Preparatory School)

DEADLOCKED JURORS IN PREP SCHOOL LACROSSE PLAYER’S KILLING A ‘GREAT SIGN’ FOR DEFENSE: EXPERT

Donna Rotunno is a criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor. 

She told Fox News Digital that the not-guilty verdict on the murder charge is justified. 

“I don’t think that the punishment would fit the elements of the crime in this circumstance,” she said Wednesday afternoon. “I don’t think this rises to the level of … where somebody should spend the rest of their life in prison. And it’s an awful, terrible, tragic situation. But I don’t think that there was the level of intent necessary to spend the rest of their life in prison.

“There is never an intent to use [a weapon]. Your hope is to have it in case you need it and I think the facts and circumstances of this situation lend to that analysis. I think that this was a circumstance where a fight broke out. I do believe that [Valle] felt that he was in danger. I believe he felt that his friends were in danger, and therefore those were the decisions that he made. And, you know, knife or not, that was that.”

SELF-DEFENSE CLAIM IN AUSTIN METCALF SLAYING IS ‘UPHILL BATTLE’: EXPERT

The jury was deadlocked at 11-1 on Monday and Tuesday before deliberations continued Wednesday morning, as NBC Connecticut reported. Valle testified during the trial, claiming the stabbing was self-defense.

“I think those stories are very compelling for jurors. I think jurors really try to get it right,” Rotunno told Fox News Digital on Tuesday, before the jury reached the verdict. “Obviously, there are some cases where maybe that analysis doesn’t fit or somebody makes the claim of self-defense [and] it doesn’t make sense under the law. But … given the way this jury has been out now for a couple of days, and they’re clearly deadlocked … [defense attorneys] have made a compelling argument to at least one or some.”

She added that any time a defendant asserts self-defense, “the burden shifts to you to show that … you were in reasonable fear.”

Valle took the witness stand in his own defense last week, which Rotunno said is “almost necessary” in cases like his.

A 16-year-old murder suspect allegedly stabbed Jimmy McGrath outside this home on Laurel Glen Drive in Milford, Connecticut, where a memorial in the shape of a heart was placed outside. (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)

AUSTIN METCALF’S SUSPECTED KILLER INDICTED ON FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CHARGE IN TRACK MEET STABBING

Valle attended St. Joseph High School in Trumbull near Fairfield Prep, where McGrath was a junior. Both had been at a house party on the evening of May 14, 2022 that involved a fight and underage drinking prior to the stabbing, which occurred at another house party later that night.

Police responded to several 911 calls reporting a fight that occurred just before midnight on May 14, 2022 outside a residence on Laurel Glen Drive in Shelton and found multiple victims on the front lawn. The owner of the residence where the party took place was home at the time of the incident, according to a warrant.

At one point, there were about 25 people engaged in the fight on the front lawn of the home, witnesses told police. At least three juvenile suspects are mentioned in the report, including Valle, who is suspected of having a knife. McGrath had “one stab wound to the left side of the chest,” the warrant states. “The stab wound went through the rib and heart.”

CONNECTICUT TEEN TO STAND TRIAL FOR PREP SCHOOL ATHLETE’S MURDER THAT HAS ‘SHAKEN’ PARENTS, SCHOOLS: ATTORNEY

A doctor from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Connecticut told police that there were approximately 1.8 liters of blood in McGrath’s lungs. 

During his emotional testimony, Valle said he never intended to kill anyone that evening. He said a friend handed him the knife during a large fight involving dozens of teenagers who surrounded him. He alleged that at one point during the fight, he lost consciousness. 

Valle further said he was swinging the knife in all directions and felt overwhelmed, according to Court TV.

Raul Valle speaks during his second day of testimony at his murder trial in state Superior Court in Milford, Connecticut, on July 1, 2025. (Ned Gerard/Connecticut Post)

“So I think that it’s very difficult in a self-defense case for a jury to not hear from the defendant,” Rotunno explained. “Sometimes, you can establish it through other witnesses, but if you have a defendant that can take the stand, and you have somebody who … is going to do a good job telling the jury what happened, I almost think it’s necessary in these cases.”

Rotunno said that “in a melee, you have to remember, you’re talking about split-second situations.” She noted that at one point during his testimony, Valle was asked whether someone next to him was coming directly at him during the fight, to which he responded that he could not remember.

RACHEL MORIN MURDER: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SUSPECT DENIED EVER BEING IN MARYLAND AT TIME OF CRIME

A 16-year-old murder suspect allegedly stabbed Jimmy McGrath outside this home on Laurel Glen Drive in Shelton, Connecticut, where a memorial in the shape of a heart was placed outside. (Fox News Digital)

“I think that for the defense, the best piece of information is just the fact that this is a total fight. You have no idea who’s coming at you. You don’t know what’s going to happen to you. You’re in fear, and you act,” she said. “And in any circumstance, I understand that the prosecution is going to say, he brought this knife to a fist fight, right? … But just because you have a weapon on you doesn’t mean that there was an intent to use it. And if you’re not the aggressor, it doesn’t mean you don’t have a right to then defend yourself.”

If the jury does not come to an agreement, the judge may declare a mistrial. That could result in the case going “back to square one,” Rotunno said. The defense could also argue for Valle’s release in the case of a mistrial.

Raul Valle listens in court on the eighth day of his murder trial in state Superior Court in Milford, Connecticut, on June 30, 2025. (Ned Gerard/Connecticut Post)

A representative from St. Joseph told Fox News Digital in 2022 that Valle had been in good academic standing and had not been in any fights at school before the May 14 incident.

Valle was released on $2 million bond just days after his arrest in May 2022.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

An obituary for McGrath described the 17-year-old as the “sunshine” of his parents’ life and his sister’s “best friend and confidant.” 

“Many described Jim as a wonderfully happy person with a big heart who was a loving friend to many,” the obituary states. “He loved his school, Fairfield Prep, and he excelled as an athlete in every sport he chose. He played football and lacrosse for Fairfield Prep and as a youth for Shelton and Connecticut Wolves as well. He understood the meaning of being part of a team.”

Audrey Conklin is a digital reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business. Email tips to audrey.conklin@fox.com or on Twitter at @audpants.