Prep school lacrosse player’s accused killer could face retrial as state files new complaint

FIRST ON FOX: The state of Connecticut filed a criminal complaint that could lead to the retrial of the 20-year-old who was acquitted of a murder charge Wednesday in the killing of Fairfield Prep lacrosse player James “Jimmy” McGrath, Fox News Digital has learned. 

“It is my understanding that the State’s Attorney office intends to pursue its criminal claim of manslaughter against Mr. [Raul] Valle for his conduct on the night in question of May 14, 2022,” McGrath family attorney Michael Rosnick told Fox News Digital on Thursday afternoon. 

The Milford Judicial District Clerk’s Office confirmed that the state is pursuing a retrial on the manslaughter charge. 

“The state has filed an amended information,” the clerk’s office said. “It will likely require a court hearing. That date has not yet been determined.”

In Connecticut, an “information” is a formal accusation of a criminal offense.

“Those charges the state is pursuing in an amended information, the court ultimately is going to have to decide if that amended information can go forward or if the state has to apply for a warrant for arrest,” the clerk’s office said.

Valle was acquitted on Wednesday on charges of murder, intentional manslaughter and intentional assault. However, the jury hung on lesser included charges of reckless manslaughter and reckless assault, and a partial mistrial was declared on those counts.

The state is allowed to retry Valle on those charges. Valle’s attorney and the state’s attorney’s office did not immediately return requests for comment. 

McGrath’s father was shocked by the Wednesday acquittal. 

“I’m astonished at the results, but, you know, it’s due process,” a stoic Kevin McGrath said outside the state Superior Court in Milford, Connecticut, later describing his son as a “wonderful person.”

“He’s entitled to it,” said McGrath. “And at the end of the day, the jury made their verdict. I’m not sure if, you know, they were in the same courtroom as we all were together, but that’s the verdict. And we’ll live with it.” 

PREP SCHOOL LACROSSE PLAYER’S ACCUSED KILLER FOUND NOT GUILTY OF MURDER

McGrath was referring to Valle, who, after an eight-day trial and nearly three days of jury deliberation, was acquitted of murdering McGrath’s son during a brawl at a rowdy, booze-fueled high school party in 2022. 

McGrath, who was 17 at the time, was a lacrosse player at Fairfield College Preparatory Academy. Valle was 16 at the time of the fatal stabbing, but was charged as an adult. 

PREP SCHOOL LACROSSE PLAYER’S ACCUSED KILLER COULD WALK AFTER MAKING LEGAL MANEUVER: EXPERT

“I can’t even imagine that, you know, I’m standing here giving this part of the speech,” Kevin McGrath said Wednesday. “I mean, I was ready for maybe manslaughter. I was not ready for not guilty. I’ll be honest with you: I don’t think anybody was.”

“I was extremely confident, probably overconfident. I’m shocked,” he said. “You know, it’s probably why I’m in control. I’m shocked right now of the verdict.”

McGrath was also magnanimous at times.

“Raul Valle received a fair trial,” he assured reporters. 

“I don’t believe Raul Valle woke up Saturday morning and said he was going to kill Jimmy McGrath. You know, I never believed that. They didn’t know each other. I’m just in shock that an innocent young man with a brilliant potential is not with us anymore. And the person that took his life is right now free tonight.”

He also graciously thanked first responders, investigators, the court and the media for conducting themselves professionally throughout the criminal justice process.

CONNECTICUT TEEN TO STAND TRIAL FOR PREP SCHOOL ATHLETE’S MURDER THAT HAS ‘SHAKEN’ PARENTS, SCHOOLS: ATTORNEY

osnick spoke briefly about the possibility of further legal action. 

“There are lesser included charges,” he said. “I anticipate, we anticipate, that the state’s attorney’s office will file an information, but I’m going to let the state’s attorney’s office speak for itself.”

The parties are currently embroiled in civil litigation. 

Valle, now 20, attended St. Joseph High School in Trumbull near Fairfield Prep, where McGrath was a junior. Both had been at a house party on the evening of May 14, 2022, that involved a fight and underage drinking prior to the stabbing, which occurred at another house party later that night.

At one point, there were about 25 people engaged in the fight on the front lawn of the home, whose owners were present during the brawl, witnesses told police. At least three juvenile suspects are mentioned in the report, including Valle, who was suspected of having a knife.

McGrath had “one stab wound to the left side of the chest,” the warrant states. “The stab wound went through the rib and heart.”

Valle claimed during his trial that he acted in self-defense, and that he was protecting one of his friends.