On the night of January 30th, 2023, officers in Lechfield, Kentucky, received a call of a man stabbed and in desperate need of help. What officers didn't know is that it would be one of the youngest suspects in Kentucky history and that it all started over a glass of spilled lemonade. Officers raced to the home, unaware of the shocking reality that awaited them inside. >> Where's the person with the knife? >> In the garage in there. >> Hey, EMS all the way, man. >> He was outside. >> Yeah, >> he was. What's he wearing? >> Which way to go? Dispatch, advis purpose fled the scene. He's a freaking puddle of blood under him. We're getting a medic bag now. >> Hey, cover him. I'm getting a medical bag. >> Hang on. Who's in the garage? >> What's he wearing? >> T-shirt. >> He's in a camouflage hoodie. >> That's him. >> Okay, tell him to hold one second. We've got him located in the garage. Sheriff's office. Hands in the air now. Hands in the air. Step out. Step out. Face away from me. Hands on top of your head. >> Place your hands as small your back. >> There was a big fight between both of them. >> He came at me first. >> He came at me. Stop speaking. We'll figure that. We got We'll figure that out. >> Safety for right now. You have weapons on you. >> No, I just pocket. >> Your phone's in your right pocket. >> Listen to me. You have the right to man some kind of use against you to court of law. You have the right to an attorney. >> Speak with an attorney. Okay. Walk this way. Just security real quick. You don't care. >> You double lock keys. >> Uh yes. >> Is there any way I'm >> Hang on. Dispatch. We got him secured. Send EMS to the front door. >> Is there any way I'm allowed to come to the hospital? >> Hit you out there. the stretcher. Stretcher. Got it. >> All the way in. >> Got to bring it all in. >> Scissors. Wait, >> look at me. >> I know. >> What's going on? >> You've been stabbed, buddy. You been stabbed in the back. >> It's going to be okay, though. I'm going to get you to the hospital. >> You want to go get it? Where you guys want to shake us to the nightclub? >> I just seen him go out the back door. >> So, you seen him go to the back door with the knife? I don't know. >> Okay, we'll get him. We'll worry about that. Okay, back. >> Josh, keep your eyes open, buddy. Okay, >> Josh. Hey, look at me. >> Do you live here? >> Yeah. Is that your husband? I guess. Was that your son? >> Yes. And this is my stepdad. >> Step. Okay. >> It's okay. No, honey. Breathe. Okay. >> Keep breathing. Keep talking. >> Just keep breathing. Okay. >> Please. Please. >> Please breathe. >> You work out for him. >> And he has impas. >> It's not even >> right now. Hey, Josh. >> Yep. >> Slow down your breathing. Okay. >> I know. I know. I know. >> All right. >> You'll be okay. I promise. >> All right. >> Um All right. >> Don't touchbody. Get over here. Let's grab a hole. Grab a hole. >> As Timothy [music] Josh Hickden was rushed away by EMS, deputies turned back to the crime scene. His fate still in doubt, they prepared to search for the knife and begin speaking with family members. >> I don't see anything laying out. >> Second. All right. He was covered in blood. I checked where he was standing in there. I didn't see anything either. >> If he threw that out in the yard, Sean's dog has helped me find guns before. Don't holler at him. See if he can see how he deal with blood. >> Thank you, sir. All right. So, hop back and photograph where you found him. We need to get that blood photographed before mama goes and cleans it up. Let's retrace his steps while Justin's making that phone call. Okay. >> Yeah. >> How's it going? You doing all right? >> This is my sister's house. >> This is your sister's house. Okay. >> What's going on? >> Somebody stabbed somebody. >> I'm not sure who it was. You got one detained. They're taking one to the hospital. If you don't care, just hang out right here for just a minute. >> Ma'am, do we have um They're taking Blitzfield. We have your permission to >> Josh. Okay. Go straight on that. We have He look for the knife and look for this. What happened? >> Yeah. He went straight out the door though. It would be out the door. >> So the front door or the back door? >> I'm pretty sure the garage way. >> Okay. All right. Where did the fight happen at here? >> Yes. Right here. >> So this is where he collapsed at. >> This is where they had each other. >> Okay. What was >> when they fight? It is not good. But they've never hit each other. He punched and u spilled lemonade. That's why I had all this stuff pulled out over here. Lemonade went everywhere. And Josh, my husband, got upset about it and questioned me and then they got in a fight. But you can get a little bit fresh off you, >> Luke. It's going to be okay. Your dad's going to be >> So, I'm going to be taking him to the sheriff's your other son sheriff's office for processes. This is pretty steep charges. It's all the first degree. It's nice to murder, >> but I don't know the extent like I always turn away. I know he went after Ethan. I don't know. Ethan was probably he always carries like a pocket knife. started swinging at him when dad put a speaker in his face. >> Okay. What's your husband's name? >> Timothy Joshua Hickdon. >> Hello. >> Hey, you busy? He throwed the knife somewhere. I didn't know if you'd be able to bring the dog up. Maybe find it. >> You know, like the area through that. >> Uh he was in the house and went out the back door to the garage. So, we're thinking it's somewhere in there. >> Did you find it? >> Blake. >> I've been just getting information. And what's your name, young man? >> Joshua Lucas. Josh, do you go by Josh? >> I go by Luke. >> Luke. Okay. >> Is there any way my sister's out there if she can come in? >> Yeah. I told her just to hang back there and as soon as we get >> we get this area photographed and stuff. It's fine. The young man you have detained out there. What's his first name? >> Ethan McKenna. >> So, let us look around here. You help Sean. >> I talked to Sean. He said he's going to take his kids across the road from be. >> Can I get an extra set of clothes for Ethan? >> Yes. >> Okay. Can you If you don't care, go grab that for me. >> Okay. So, what's going to happen with Ethan? So, I'm going to comment CDW, which is a court designated worker. She's essentially the go-between between prosecutor and juveniles. CDW contacts the judge. They go over the charges, decide whether he is incarcerated juvenile detention center or at least a guardian. So, he's your biological son, correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, does he have any other guardians in this community? >> Not in this community. >> Okay. What does is his dad in the picture? >> Um, kind of. >> Kind of. >> Okay. Where does his dad live? >> Lexington. >> Okay. All right. If you don't care, ma'am, I'm going to talk to Luke for a second. You think people go turn and talk to your sister? All right. Obviously, it's been a chaotic night. Just from the beginning, take your time. What happens here? >> Uh, pretty much. >> I'm going to mute the TV. Okay. So, I hear you guys. Okay. >> So, Ether is getting taken to the police station. >> Uh, yeah. He'll be taken to the sheriff's office. It'll be up to her as far as what where he goes from there as far as juvenile detention or released to a to a parent. >> I know. He was just trying to defend himself and he had that knife in his pocket. Did Josh go after him? Yeah, he's the one that he kept going like that in Ethan's face and screaming on top of his things and I think they started pushing each other and then one thing led to the next and Ethan always throws that pocket knife in his pants and he just >> I I was in my room and I just heard which happens sometimes. >> Where's your room? My room is that one that's on this side. Okay. >> Yeah. I come out here to take out the trash because that's my chore for this week. And they were arguing and I found out what the argument was about. It's cuz Ethan put the lemonade in there saying that he didn't do it. It wasn't his fault and all this. And it it was just a back and forth on yes, you did. No, you didn't pretty much. And then Ethan kind of got riled up about it and got in his face. And my dad was like, you're not like getting in my face. You're not going to do that. You're 15. So dad started putting his finger in his face. And then Ethan just started like hling and like swinging at him and they just started like grappling pretty much. Started like right there and got all the way over there. It looked like like my dad was on top and it looked like Ethan like slung him over and got on top of him. I didn't know what was going on. And then dad says, "Did he just stab me?" And I just started freaking out. I go over there, there's blood everywhere. And Ethan comes over here to the sink and cleans off his knife and walks out the door talking to somebody on the phone. I don't know who he's talking to. I just see I see a pocket knife or a kitchen knife. >> I think he keeps like a knife like clip to it. Yeah. >> Nothing real fancy. Just like a knife that you can flip out. [clears throat] And >> we'll see. >> Yeah. >> It's pretty scary, man. >> He's all I have. >> Well, he's in the best hands that we can find him right now. Those medics knew what they were doing and they were No, they were all business getting him out of here fast. They did the best they could to get him out of here as soon as they could. Okay. So, they washed the knife off in the sink. I think that's what you got the water on. >> There's the Hey, I found a knife to the sink. >> Blood. >> I'll let the handle. >> Hey, we we found the knife. >> Okay. Y'all good? >> Yep. >> Dad. All right. >> Uh he's he's still coherent talking. He was in pretty bad shape when he left here. like an actual solid staff. >> Like actual gas. >> What? >> It's one of them one of them nines like we all carry. >> Well, at least it wasn't super big. >> It's big enough. I'm going to hop off here and help out. >> All right. I'll talk to you later. >> All right. Well, you done here? Yeah. You going to back up. I'm going to get the knife and then head to the All right, man. We found the knife here in the sink. >> Oh, you did? Right there in the sink, huh? >> Yeah. He's just trying to wash it off. He walked out the back door. >> Is there any concern? >> Before we leave, not right now. Okay. Is he in your truck, Justin? >> Okay. Hey, your dad's in good hands. Okay. He's in the best possible hands he can be in right now. All right. Keep your head clear. If you talk to anybody, you can call dispatch. Okay. All right, buddy. >> All right, Mr. McKenna. So, we're saying the hard start over spilled lemonade. Okay. Did you see any physical altercation? >> Yes, they were scream. It started off screaming. Josh started putting his finger in Ethan's face. They started shoving back and forth and then that's whenever Josh took his hand and just pushed Ethan as hard as he could against the wall. From there, they fell to the floor. They were wrestling each other. And when they were in the floor wrestling and Ethan was like, "Get off of me. Get off of me." And then all of a sudden, I heard John said, "He stabbed me. He stabbed me." >> Okay. But we got his shirt and then I go to sheriff's office from here. Okay. >> Is there anybody I can speak to before y'all go >> briefly? Just briefly is in your truck. You can go >> because I know he's scared to death. He should be. But >> okay. Your mother wants to talk to you. You sit in a truck. Turn your feet around. Turn your feet around. You sit there. You don't get out of this truck. You understand? >> Are you scared? Is your mouth busting? I thought I was physically going to get hurt. So that's why I pulled out my nose right now. I'm just going to have a sign. >> We'll be able to call your mom in a minute. Okay. >> Okay. Go inside now. >> Yes, you're free to go inside, ma'am. Buffy in one sheriff's house and we'll talk. Okay. >> Hey, buddy. uh had a juvenile stab his father in the back. Legit stabbed in the back. Pretty good size blade. Might have got some lung. We've got the juvenile in custody. So, we're on our way to the sheriff's office. So, >> all right then. That's the game plan. >> All right, brother man. Is he going is he going to live? >> I would assume so. I mean, he was coherent talking whenever they took him out. So, >> all right then. I'm on my way to the sheriff's office. With Ethan now [music] on route to the sheriff's office to answer questions and give his side of the story, officers believed the situation was under control. In reality, the night was about to take a much darker turn. He >> yells my name cuz he was, you know, I was the last one seen to get the lemonade out. He's like, he spelled the lemonade and he's just all so mad about it for no reason. Like just outrageously mad. Like more mad than I've seen him mad like ever for the most dumbest thing. And then I I could have swore I thought I put the top on. He's like, "Apparently you didn't." And then just starts arguing about some the stuff about lemonade and doing some other stuff and starts calling this all stupid cuz my mom says kids make mistakes. You shouldn't be getting so mad over that. And he just starts yelling yelling at us, calling us all stupid and stuff. I just want to get away from it. So I go into my room, close my door, and then he just walks in there like all big and bad. and then he comes up to me and just pushes me and like the first push I thought something was gonna happen. So that's when I grabbed the knife but then I put it in my pocket because I wasn't gonna use it until actually something happened until I thought that I needed >> So you didn't have the knife in your pocket regularly was in your room. >> I thought I needed to actually use it because there's no reason to but then I did because he pushed me and I just wanted to get away from him because he was just getting on my nerves. He was yelling at me and he pushes me again like I try to get out of my room and he doesn't let me out. I said please can I please get out of my room? He says no. and then pushes me again. So then I like finally like move him out of the way. Not hard or nothing at all. Slightly move him out of the way so I can get out of my room. Tries to get me on the ground and that's where I push him and then start defending myself and then he tries to get him on the ground again. I'm like no. And then that's when I stab him cuz he cuz that's when he hit me in the nose. So I stab him because he hit me in the nose and he was trying to get me to the ground. So I thought that you know something was going to happen because he's way older than me, more experienced everything. I wasn't just going to let my myself get beat like that. >> Okay. Did he ever have a weapon in his hand at all or just his hands? >> Just his hands. >> Whatever. >> I just got up cuz everyone was screaming. I just like washed my hand the blood off my hands. Well, originally I dropped the knife off the ground and then just got up, washed the blood off my hands. >> Did you drop the kn You picked it up off the ground? >> No, I dropped it on the ground. I mean, cuz you know how it was on the ground when you walked in there cuz I left it on the ground and then I went and washed off my hands and I went outside just cuz I needed to get some air. And that's all I felt like I needed was just air. >> How often do you guys fight? >> I don't know. It has happened a lot. Like it's been going on for a while cuz used to when I was like a little kid around like eight cuz my mom got with him when I was around like eight and stuff. He would legit use both of his hands and pick me up by the cheeks and squeeze my face telling me to shut up and stuff. >> How many times you stab him? >> Uh either once or twice. I know that. >> Okay. because I done it I think it was twice because I done it once and then he didn't fall and he started he tried to keep on you know like hitting me and trying to get me on the ground. So then I think I done it again and that's when he fell to the ground. >> Was he standing when he had me? >> Yeah, he was trying to get me on the ground like hitting me and stuff. >> Okay. Where where did the first where did the first >> like demonstrate kind of like get up and show you all the spot in the back. >> Where did the next one go? >> Like either above it or a little bit below it. I can't remember. >> Okay. So [clears throat] was you reaching around him I guess? >> Yeah. Like I had the knife and I just went because I was trying to, you know, just give him away from him cuz I was getting hit. I was thought I was going to die. Like I thought he wasn't going to stop. So I just went into that shop and I just stabbed him. >> All right. Um, sit tight for a sec with Dustin right here. Get my camera, take a couple pictures of you. Okay. >> All right. >> Um, and I'll make a phone call. I'll back and talk to you. All right. >> All right. I'll be right back. Now that Ethan had told his side of events, officers waited. But soon they received [music] devastating news. News they now had to break to him. >> All right. Um Ethan explain to anybody you can hear. Um but I got didn't make it. Kid passed away. Um, don't know what's going to happen charges or anything like that. I'm about to call coordinate worker. Um, I'll still allow your dad to come and talk to you. Um, because it's almost here. Um, just make you aware that, okay, >> sit here. Take a breath. Drink water. Please stay sit here. Okay. M Davis, the lady you talked to earlier, Ethan wants to talk to you. Okay. >> I'm just making sure that you're aware that your changed. I didn't know. >> Do you now? >> Well, yeah. Now I do. >> Okay. All right. So, you know, instead of attempted murder, they're charging you with murder. Um, you'll have a court date on Thursday at 9 in the morning. >> Yeah. >> Um, I'm sure they won't bring you to court. They'll probably do it on Zoom, but you'll know more after that. Okay. And they're going to take you to the hospital and get you medically cleared. Um, you have to do that before going to detention. All right. Thanks. >> All right. So, how long am I going to be in there for? Up to judge. Uh, so you'll be in front of a judge Thursday. They'll decide whether you stay in there. >> I get a lawyer or is it just the judge? >> Your parents are already in the process of getting a lawyer. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um, so >> so I'll just stay in the detention center until >> probably until until the hearing Thursday, I assume. Let's go. >> There's jar. You got hit in the nose. >> Yeah. >> Got any other injuries? >> No. Just tilt your head back a little bit. Do you have any bleeding? What happened? Just open your mouth. Same thing right there. X-rays on that. So evening. >> So he has two citations. Um, he's got the original charges of attempted murder, assault one, pampering, and the second citation for murder. Tell him, man. >> Ethan's stepfather, Timothy Josh Hickden, would end up not surviving the stabbing, [music] having been stabbed six to seven times. The suspect, Ethan McKini, was originally charged as a juvenile, but in June 2023, he was released [music] into his father's care on a $10,000 bond. As part of his release, Ethan was barred from returning to Grayson [music] County, a condition meant to ease community tensions. His case quickly sparked turmoil with family members [music] demanding he be tried as an adult. As of publication, the latest available information indicates the case remains ongoing [music] in Grayson County with Ethan still facing a murder charge. However, the Midwest safety team has independently confirmed the case is sealed, meaning further developments are not accessible. While the case may have reached a disposition in court, that outcome will not be available to [music] the