Crime & Safety

St. Clair Shores Man Charged With Stabbing His 'Best Friend'

A 17-year-old St. Clair Shores man was charged Tuesday with assault with intent to murder after he allegedly stabbed his "best friend" four times.

A 17-year-old St. Clair Shores man was charged Tuesday in with assault with intent to murder for allegedly stabbing his "best friend" four times with a steak knife.

Shane Spatafore was spending the night with his "best friend" since seventh grade when he is alleged to have gotten into an argument about 2:30 a.m. Monday with the 17-year-old, grabbed a steak knife and stabbed him four times.

St. Clair Shores Police Det. Margaret Eidt stated during his arraignment that the force of the stabbings bent the knife blade, punctured a lung and may have caused internal bleeding.

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He then fled the scene, damaging patio furniture at a neighbor's house on 13 Mile Road, before he was located by police. Spatafore is alleged to have resisted arrest, and had to be subdued by a Taser before he was taken into custody, police said.

Defense attorney David Pietroski stated that Spatafore was at his friend's house, and once the others at the sleepover started using a liquid acid, he went to bed.

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"He didn't want to get involved," Pietroski said.

Pietroski said his client believes he was drugged while sleeping, which may have contributed to the assault.

Despite a request to be placed on house arrest, 40th District Court Judge Joseph Oster set bond at $200,000 and arraigned him on one count of assault with intent to murder, two counts of resisting arrest and one count of malicious destruction of property. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison.

The student and football player, who was to start school this week, will be held in the Macomb County Jail prior to his next court date on Sept. 14.

In addition to the assault, Spatafore is also facing car theft and breaking and entering a vehicle charges in and . In both of those cases he is charged as a juvenile.


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