Text by Nicholas Rondinone, Hartford Courant; video by Jan Carabeo, FOX CT
BRISTOL — Police in North Carolina arrested a man in connection with the fatal stabbing Saturday morning of a local teen at a party on Irving Street.
Joshua Daniels, 26, of Conlon Street in Bristol, was arrested Sunday by police in High Point, N.C., according to Bristol Police, following a traffic stop.
The Bristol Police Department had obtained an arrest warrant for Daniels charging him with the murder of Joey Klett, a 19-year-old from Bristol, at a party on Irving Street, police said.
The arrest warrant for Daniels was signed by a judge at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday night, according to Det. Lt. Kevin Morrell. Daniels is being held in North Carolina pending extradition to the state, police said.
Police said a Bristol police officer had pulled over a car just after midnight on Saturday that was speeding. Klett, one of the four occupants in the vehicle, had been stabbed and the car had been headed to the hospital, police said.
Klett was given aid for his wounds at the hospital but died, police said.
Around the same time as the motor vehicle stop, officers also responded to the party on Irving Street, police said. Following some investigation, police determined Klett was stabbed at this party and officers developed a crime scene in the area.
Klett, a recent graduate of Bristol Central High School, was well remember by friends and family over the weekend.
“He was a real good kid. He did a good job for me,” said Richard Klett, Joey’s father’s cousin who coached his freshmen football team. “He was well liked be his teammates in school.”
“It’s sad to see somebody at a young age lose his life,” Klett added.
A friend and former classmate and neighbor Ishbell Hernandez told FOX CT: “If you needed a favor, he’d be there. He’d definitely do anything for anyone.”
“I just love the kid. I’m going to miss him a lot. I was planning on hanging out with him soon, and I didn’t get the chance,” Hernandez added.
A Facebook page was created in Klett’s honor Saturday and had nearly 1,600 page likes by Sunday afternoon. The group was planning a vigil Monday night at Rockwell Park for Klett.
Bristol Central High School Principal Pete Wininger said through his Twitter account that counselors would be available at school for students on Monday.