LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) –Police have arrested a 19-year-old woman in connection to the stabbing death of a 14-year-old girl from the Portland neighborhood.
Louisville Metro Police say a fight broke out among a group of girls Monday evening when the knife attack happened at a Speedway, on 21st and Duncan Streets. The child died at University Hospital early Tuesday.
Family identified the 14-year-old as Madison Branch. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office released the identity of the 14-year-old Tuesday afternoon. They confirmed the victim is Madison Branch.
The 19-year-old, Tiffany R. James, was arraigned in court on Tuesday. James' bond is $100,000 cash.
“Someone has got to do something about the bullying. It needs to stop,” Charlene Taylor, whose granddaughters were involved in the fight, said.
“It doesn't seem like it's an isolated incident. There's some sort of ongoing dispute between these girls and unfortunately, that's something that we're seeing as this epidemic in our community. Young people are having problems resolving their issues without resorting to violence,” Lt. Emily McKinley, with LMPD's homicide unit, said.
Police say a group of girls got into a fight in the parking lot of the Speedway. Charlene Taylor says her two granddaughters were involved in the fight.
“Now my granddaughter is going to go to jail for probably murder just for protecting herself and her sister,” Taylor said.
Taylor says a group of girls has bullied her 14-year-old granddaughter for two years, a claim police are investigating.
She says the girls jumped a 14-year-old, at which point her sister stabbed another girl in self-defense.
“I don't want to see no fights. I don't like fighting but like I said, it's a shame bullying had to go this far,” Taylor said.
LMPD's Homicide Unit is investigating.
James will be in court on July 7.