HARTFORD -- Police announced that they have made an arrest in the city's first homicide of 2016. Police said Tequile Walwyn, 19, of Hartford, is in custody and accused of killing Jonathan Douglin, 20, of West Hartford.
On Monday, Douglin's mom spoke to FOX 61 about her youngest child, who she says took care of her every day.
"He's my caregiver," Sonia Douglin said. "He takes care of me. He loves me every day. He's a god-fearing fella. A loyal brother, a friend."
Douglin said that her son couldn't bare to watch violent crimes on the news, it just wasn't who he was. "I would never think of this, that it would touch my home. That this kind of vicious crime, this vicious death," she said before trailing off.
Police said Douglin was stabbed twice at the party on Francis Ave at EightSixty Custom skate shop and indoor skate park. Police said they were not informed ahead of time that the facility would be hosting a New Year's party.
Detectives found Douglin with stab wounds to his abdomen and chest area, and he died at the hospital.
Two vigils will be held this week to honor Douglin. The first will be held Tuesday, January 5 at 5 p.m. at 41 Francis Ave., where the stabbing occurred.
The second will be held on Wednesday, January 6 at 5 p.m. at Sterling Field, behind the Charter Oak International Academy, which is where Douglin went to elementary school and played in the West Hartford Youth Football League.
A friend is helping the family raise funds to help pay for his funeral, and people have already given more than $9,000 in just three days. You can donate by clicking here.
