Ohio Teen Stabbed to Death After Argument

A 19-year-old man, whom friends say was preparing to return to Ohio after an extended visit with his mother, was stabbed to death late Saturday night, police said.

Jason Henderson was pronounced dead at 11:50 p.m. outside the Parthenia Court Apartments, in the 15000 block of Parthenia Street, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Jeri Weinstein said.

Police were questioning a man Sunday in connection with the incident, but had not made any arrests, said Officer Don Cox, an LAPD spokesman.

Friends and family members gathered at the scene Sunday afternoon to memorialize Henderson, who was known as “JBox” around the neighborhood. Beneath a strip of yellow police tape they erected a shrine of candles, flowers, a shaggy, light-green stuffed bear and a bag of cheese popcorn--Henderson’s favorite snack.

Moments after reciting the Lord’s Prayer, the small crowd rushed to the corner of Parthenia Street and Burnet Avenue, where a 1991 Honda Civic had suddenly caught fire. Several mourners said that Henderson’s killer had abandoned the car after the stabbing, and that friends of the teen torched it.

Many in the crowd cheered at the site of the flames.

“It was deliberately set,” said Los Angeles Fire Capt. David Saylor. He said it took firefighters about 10 minutes to extinguish the flames.

Henderson came to Los Angeles in December to visit his mother, said his cousin, Tasha Jacques. He had been living in Ohio with his father.

Henderson dreamed of playing professional basketball, said friend Reyna Gilbert, and could be found every Sunday at the Sepulveda Park courts. A constant joker, he frequently used humor to diffuse tense situations, Gilbert said.

With recent episodes of violence in the area, including a slaying Friday, Henderson had been eager to return to Ohio, Gilbert said.

Although police released few details of the slaying Sunday, neighbors said the incident began with an argument around 10 p.m.

Tracy Edens, who lives nearby, said she thought the dispute had been resolved, though, when Henderson’s assailant returned.

“An hour had passed since they argued. He wasn’t even thinking about it when the guy came up and stabbed him,” Henderson said. “He was already talking to someone else.”