Wyoming teen killed while protecting girlfriend was restrained and stabbed

The 14-year-old Wyoming teen who was killed while protecting his girlfriend from a pair of teenagers wearing ski masks was held down by one of his attackers while the second attacker beat him to death with a knife, prosecutors revealed.

Dominique Antonio Richard Harris, 15, could face life in prison after pleading not guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit murder charges for his alleged role in the April killing of Bobby Maher at Eastridge Mall in Casper, the Cowboy State Daily reports.

Harris, who is being tried as an adult, admitted to police that he restrained Harris to help his alleged co-conspirator, Jarreth Plunkett, 15, stab him, according to court records.

Harris claimed he only held Maher down “to make sure the fight was over,” but footage from the April 7 attack showed him knocking Maher to the ground and holding him in place while Plunkett stabbed the 14-year-old twice.

Officials said Maher rushed to the mall to help his girlfriend after she called him about Harris and Plunket allegedly stalking her and a friend.

Harris and Plunkett, who are also accused of stealing knives from a Target before the fight, allegedly confronted Maher because they were angry about a spring break incident at an Evansville park, records show judicial.

Harris claimed Maher asked the 15-year-olds if they were both “freaks” because he saw them exiting a portable bathroom together.

Mall surveillance footage showed Maher tried to get his girlfriend and her friend out of the mall before Plunkett confronted him.

Harris is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated battery and theft.

Although he pleaded not guilty, defense attorney Brandon Booth said his client reserves the right to change his plea due to mental illness or deficiency.

During the hearing, Harris told District Court Judge Kerri Johnson that he was not aware of ever being diagnosed with a learning disability.

Last week, Plunkett pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, with the judge ordering him to undergo a mental examination, according to the Cowboy State Daily.