An almost-teen boy is being charged in juvenile court for the murder of a 9-year-old boy after he reportedly stabbed him to death while at a playground in western Michigan Monday afternoon.

Reports state that Michael Conner Verkerke died due to numerous stab wounds in the back. According to witnesses, he acquired the injuries from an encounter with a 12-year-old boy while playing with two more children in Pinebrook Village mobile park in Kentwood.

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In a statement released by local authorities, the victim was said to be seen screaming while running home before he collapsed on his porch at around 6 p.m. on Monday. He was then rushed by ambulance to the hospital where he later died.

One of the neighbors, identified as Glen Stacey, told investigators that the suspect approached him after the encounter and asked if he could use his phone.

According to Stacey, the older boy called 911 to report the incident, citing that the boy was "very calm" when describing what had happened.

"I heard him tell the 911 operator, 'I just stabbed someone. Come and get me. I want to die,'" he stated.

After the police attended to the wounded boy on the porch, the older boy, who was still at Stacey's property, called out to the police and turned himself in.

Kentwood Police Chief Thomas Hillen said that the suspect seemed to be a stranger to the other children and has refused to speculate on the possible motive for the stabbing.

The 12-year-old boy was charged with 'open murder' in juvenile court on Tuesday where he pleaded not guilty. The suspect is to be detained in a juvenile detention center while waiting for the hearing scheduled on August 13.

According to the Kent County Prosecutors Office, if convicted in juvenile court, the 12-year-old boy could be charged as an adult in a "blended sentence" when he turns 21.

Meanwhile, Defense Lawyer Charles Boekeloo declared a not-guilty plea for his client as they plan on seeking mental evaluation to ascertain if the boy is mentally stable to stand trial.

Tagsplayground stabbing, michael verkerke, verkerke stabbing, boy stabs boy, playground murder