Parents Of Jimmy McGrath Urge Public To 'Let Justice System Take Over'

SHELTON, CT — Weeks after Jimmy McGrath was fatally stabbed during a house party in Shelton, the 17-year-old Fairfield College Preparatory School student's family held a press conference Friday morning to thank the community for their support and urged them not to act out of anger.

During the press conference, which was held at the office of the family's lawyer in Bridgeport and livestreamed by a number of media outlets, McGrath's parents, Kevin and Margaret, and his sister, Rosie, asked members of the community to "let the criminal justice system take over" as they continue to mourn their son.

"Our community is mourning the loss of an amazing young man," Kevin McGrath said. "Our wounds are fresh, our emotions are raw, but we must not let our raw emotions divide our community."

Raul Eliah Valle, a 16-year-old Milford teen accused of fatally stabbing McGrath during a May 14 house party on Laurel Glen Drive in Shelton, has been charged with murder and three counts of first-degree assault, according to police. He was released from custody May 23 after his father posted his bond.

During the press conference, Kevin McGrath said his son was a unifier while "Valle and his accomplices are the dividers" in the community.

"Raul Valle and his accomplices will be held accountable through the criminal court system," Kevin McGrath said. "Please let the detectives [and] the state's attorney's offices do their jobs."

He also raised concerns over "a couple isolated incidents where emotions have gotten the better of members of our community" and urged everyone to remain peaceful and let the Shelton Police Department and other investigators do their jobs, rather than take matters into their own hands.

"As a family, we appreciate your compassion, your love for Jimmy," Kevin McGrath said. "We understand the anger that you may be going through, but we caution our friends not to react out of anger. You have to protect yourself...they have the people who did it, so let the criminal justice system take over from here."

He also added: "Do not take matters into your own hands and distract [authorities] from their task at hand. Any violence resulting from this matter would be a dishonor to Jimmy's name. He would not want anyone else to be harmed as a result of what happened."

Friday's press conference marked the first time McGrath's family has spoken out in public since their appearance during a May 18 tribute held at Shelton High School prior to the start of a lacrosse game against Fairfield Prep.

"Clearly, tonight I would love Jimmy's name to be announced for scoring a goal," Kevin McGrath said during the tribute, "but...Margaret, I and Rosie appreciate everything our community has done. This is a day to celebrate Jimmy's life."

During the press conference, Rosie McGrath said she was overwhelmed and thankful for the support she has received from friends, family and the community.

"My brother was certainly my best friend, and the one thing that will impact me for the rest of my life will be his passion and his drive," Rosie McGrath said. "Even though he was my younger brother, I often looked to him as an inspiration. I know he'll look after me, and I'm just happy I had the time I had with him. We did everything together, and I want justice for him."

Kevin McGrath said he attended Valle's previous court appearance and tried to make eye contact with him but was unsuccessful. He plans to attend each court hearing, the next of which is currently scheduled for mid-July.

He also noted the large crowd that showed up to his son's recent wake, each member of which had their own story to share about how Jimmy McGrath touched their lives.

"That's the miracle," Kevin McGrath said. "The miracle is Jimmy and his memory. He was a gift, he was a gift to all of us."

Related:

• Warrant Details Police Investigation Of Jimmy McGrath's Stabbing Death
• Teen Accused Of Fatally Stabbing Jimmy McGrath, 17, Posts $2M Bond
• 'This Is A Day To Celebrate Jimmy's Life,' Slain Teen's Dad Says
• St. Joseph Student Accused Of Fatally Stabbing James McGrath, 17

As of Friday afternoon, a GoFundMe campaign set up for the McGrath family has raised over $137,000. Kevin McGrath said he was thankful for the outpouring of support the family has received and noted the money raised would be used to help the family and others affected by the tragedy to heal.

"This isn't one meeting with a therapist and we move on," Kevin McGrath said, "so we appreciate all of the donations. It's going to go toward our healing, and then the healing for the community as well."

With every step they take in the aftermath of Jimmy McGrath's death, the family hopes to find what positives they can in a situation his father referred to as "extremely tragic."

"We're going to let this situation define us, but we're not going to let it break us," Kevin McGrath said. "We're going to turn this tragic situation into a positive."

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