HOUSTON — A 10-year-old boy has been charged with murder in connection with the February 4 stabbing death of 13-year-old Riley DeArmas in Houston. The boy was charged on March 31 and arrested on April 22 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The fatal stabbing occurred at around 7:50 p.m. on February 4 at an apartment complex on Grow Lane near the Northwest Freeway in northwest Houston. Officers responded to reports of a disturbance involving multiple people and found DeArmas with a stab wound. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The boy reportedly told officers he stabbed DeArmas in self-defense. Investigators say he claimed DeArmas was part of a group of 20 to 30 people who came to the complex and began assaulting others. DeArmas' family has disputed the boy's account, saying she was attacked.

Ashley DeArmas, the victim's mother, described the period since her daughter's death. "These past two month without Riley have been, almost and really unbearable," she said.

Under Texas law, 10 is the minimum age for criminal responsibility. Legal analyst Carmen Roe explained the implications. "If you are 10 years of age or older, you can be charged with crimes such as murder. In this case, because the defendant is under the age of 14, he cannot be charged as an adult," Roe said. Roe added that if convicted, the boy would likely remain in a juvenile detention facility until age 18.

It was not immediately clear why the boy was in North Carolina or who may have taken him. Authorities expect he will be extradited back to Harris County.