Teen charged in deadly stabbing of Fairfield Prep student released on $2 million bond

Raul "Lito" Valle, the 16-year-old Milford resident accused in the stabbing death of Fairfield Prep student Jimmy McGrath, has been released from custody after posting $2 million bond. Valle, a student at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, walked out of the Milford courthouse with his father's arm protectively around him. He, his family members and his attorney had no comment as they left.
Valle's release followed a brief hearing at Milford Superior Court Monday where Judge Peter Brown denied a motion from Valle's attorney to lower his bond. Brown also put several conditions on Valle's release including GPS monitoring and house arrest. Brown ruled Valle will be on "24/7 lockdown" at his mother's home in Milford and can only leave for medical and legal reasons that must be pre-approved by probation. Valle also had to turn over his passport and was ordered to have no contact with the victims, their families, and anyone else involved in the incident.
It was the first time Valle appeared in open court. He went before a judge in Derby last week following his arrest Wednesday, but that hearing was closed to the public since it was still a juvenile case. Now Valle is charged as an adult with murder and three counts of assault.
Police said he stabbed McGrath, 17, and three other teens at a house party on Laurel Glen Drive in Shelton the night of May 14. The fight was the escalation of an earlier one at a different party between a group of St. Joseph students and a group of Shelton High students, according to Valle's arrest warrant. It does not appear McGrath, a lacrosse and football player at Fairfield Prep, was involved. Police said several witnesses identified Valle.
Valle is due back in court July 15.