On Thursday, December 12, 2024, at approximately 3:00 PM, officers from the Village of Liberty Police Department responded to reports of a fight near Liberty High School on Buckley Street. A 16-year-old male victim, suffering from multiple stab wounds, entered school grounds seeking assistance. School Resource Officers (SROs) and school staff promptly located the injured teen and administered first aid, including the application of a tourniquet to control severe bleeding.
The victim was transferred to Mobile Medic EMS and later airlifted to Westchester Medical Center, where he remains in stable but critical condition as of this report.
Police quickly identified two 15-year-old male suspects fleeing the scene. Following a brief foot pursuit, both juveniles were apprehended. By the end of the day, the investigation led to the arrests of three additional individuals: two 17-year-old females and 18-year-old Ricco Molina of Liberty. All five suspects face felony charges of Assault in the 1st Degree and Gang Assault in the 1st Degree.
Molina was arraigned in the Town of Liberty Court and held at Sullivan County Jail on $10,000 cash bail, $20,000 secured bond, or $40,000 partially secured bond. The juvenile suspects were arraigned before Judge Troy Johnstone in the Sullivan County Superior Court’s Youth Part. While one 15-year-old male was placed in a secure detention facility under the Office of Children and Family Services, the others were released on their own recognizance pending further court appearances.
The Village of Liberty Police Department is conducting the investigation with assistance from the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police.
Chief of Police Steven D’Agata remarked, “Our community will not tolerate such acts of violence. This incident highlights the challenges posed by recent ‘Raise the Age’ legislation, which complicates accountability for younger offenders. Despite these hurdles, we remain committed to ensuring public safety and justice for victims. I extend my gratitude to all agencies and the Liberty Central School District for their cooperation and support.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information, especially cell phone footage of the incident, is urged to contact the Village of Liberty Police Department Detective Division at 845-292-4422.