Milton teen charged in stabbing

Santa Rosa Sheriff’s arrested a 16-year-old male on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon early Wednesday after the suspect stabbed a Milton man. 

John Paul Hurley, of Woodcrest Drive in Milton was taken into custody at 12:54 Wednesday morning after a family disturbance call went into the Sheriff’s office.

When deputies arrived, they noticed John Spinks, the victim, lying in the driveway with a stab wound to his chest.  Spinks notified deputies that Hurley, who lives in the same house as Spinks, had stabbed him and notified officers he was in the residence. 

The Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office has yet to release whether Spinks was related to Hurley.

When deputies entered the residence, Hurley was seen with a pocket knife in his hand and was asked to drop the weapon, and was arrested.

According to the police report, an argument ensued between Spinks and another juvenile in the home.  Spinks allegedly grabbed the unidentified juvenile by the neck and punched them.  Hurley told officers that when the verbal argument turned physical, Hurley attempted to call the police.

Hurley told officers that when he went to grab the phone to call for help, Spinks tried to grab the phone from him and then swung at the 16-year-old.

At that point, Hurley grabbed a knife and stabbed Spinks in the chest area.

The teen told officers that he kept the knife on him when Spinks was intoxicated, noting that Spinks becomes aggressive while under the influence of alcohol.

Two other juveniles were in the residence at the time of the incident.  Another juvenile witness was questioned and repeated the same story according to a press release. 

Spinks was later transported to Sacred Heart Hospital for the chest wound.

Hurley remains lodged at the Department of Juvenile Justice in Escambia County without bond.