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Judge orders 11-year-old stabbing suspect to 21 days of secure detention

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A new report is giving more insight into a stabbing over a cellphone dispute at an Orange County middle school.

The 11-year-old boy accused of stabbing a 15-year-old student at Chain of Lakes Middle School on Wednesday was in court with his father Thursday.

His father tried to apologize for his son to the judge.

According to one of the witnesses of the stabbing, the 15-year-old victim gave Leomyer Garray a cellphone on Tuesday to reset it, and wanted it back on Wednesday, but Garray didn’t have it.

Another witness said the victim punched Garray twice in the face before Garray pulled out a pair of scissors from his pocket and stabbed the victim in the chest.

Garray is facing a felony charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

The judge ordered Garray to 21 days of secure detention while the State Attorney’s Office decides whether or not to file formal charges.

“Because of the seriousness of the offense the judge had no choice but to detain the child,” said WFTV’s legal analyst Bill Sheaffer.

The child’s father tried to apologize for his son, but was cut off by the defense attorneys and the judge.

“Is it possible to say something, sir?” Garray’s father asked the judge. “I really want to apologize for my son.”

“Well, I thought you were going to tell me something else,” the judge said.

The school nurse said the victim had a 2-inch laceration on his upper chest, was bleeding profusely and was having difficulty breathing.

He is expected to survive.

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