Teen arrested in metro homicide case

Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Police have arrested a 17-year-old in connection to the stabbing death of one man on the northwest side of the metro Saturday night.

Police Sgt. Daniel Stewart said Geovanni Rodrigo Palacios was booked into the Oklahoma County jail on a murder complaint on Sunday.

Police responded to what they thought was a fight around 5 p.m. Saturday. When they arrived on the scene at 11600 Cantera Creek Drive, officers found the body of 18-year-old Manuel Serrato.

Witnesses said a suspect, who was taken into custody by police, was involved in a fight with Serrato when he was stabbed.

"They were rolling around on the ground and the guy's mom was in the driveway yelling at him. All of sudden, one of the guys stopped moving and they were screaming for police," neighbor Robert Dastolfo said.

Neighbors said paramedics and police arrived on scene just moments too late.

"There was police, a paramedic," Dastolfo said. "The paramedics were trying to revive this guy here on the ground, and they weren't having much success."

Witnesses said those involved in the fight not only knew each other, but the two men were cousins. A person, who answered the phone at the residence where the fight took place, confirmed that Serrato and Palacios were cousins, but declined to say any more.

Originally, police would not confirm many details because they received conflicting reports from suspects and witnesses.

Onlookers were surprised by what took place, but even more surprised it could happen so close to home.

Stewart said Palacios was one of several people questioned after the incident.