Teen Confesses To Fatally Stabbing Mother's Boyfriend To Save Her From Assault

A Virginia teen told investigators that he stabbed his mother's boyfriend to stop him from attacking his mother, police said.

The incident took place at an apartment in Fairfax County just before 10 p.m. Sunday, with three other children present. The teenager called 911 and confessed to the stabbing in order to stop the assault.

Officials arrived at the Janna Lee Avenue apartment and found the boyfriend, identified as 32-year-old Marcus Roberson, with stab wounds to his upper body, according to WUSA9.

The man was taken to the hospital but eventually succumbed to his injuries. The mother received medical attention for her injuries at the apartment.

The teenager, who was only identified as a juvenile, was taken into custody as a "person of interest." He recalled witnessing the couple fighting and confessed to stabbing his mother's boyfriend three times to stop him from assaulting his mother, officials said.

"Preliminarily detectives from our Major Crime Bureau and Crime Scene Section determined Roberson was visiting the address when a verbal argument escalated into an assault," the Fairfax County Police Department said in a statement. "The juvenile teenager reported he stabbed Roberson to stop the assault. There were three other children inside the apartment that were unharmed. The woman was treated at the scene for injuries not considered life threatening."

The teenager was eventually allowed to go with his mother and is currently not facing any charges, NBC Washington reported.

Officials are looking at the possibility of treating the case as a justifiable homicide.

"Detectives continue to conduct interviews and process evidence recovered from the scene to determine the circumstances that led up to the fatal stabbing. Detectives are investigating the possibility this is a justifiable homicide. Detectives will consult with the Office of the Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney to determine if charges will be filed at a later date," officials said in the statement.

Investigators are also waiting for the autopsy results to determine Roberson's exact cause of death as the investigation continues.

"We are asking anyone with information regarding these incidents to call our Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 2," the police department added. "Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477)."