NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- A 16-year-old spectator at a YMCA basketball game Monday was charged with stabbing and killing a player with a metal table leg during a wild melee in the final seconds of a tournament game.
Lloyd Newton, 19, of New York City, was playing in a YMCA-sponsored game at the Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club Sunday afternoon when he was slain with just 50 seconds left in the game.
Brian Young, 16, of Niagara Falls, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. He was to be arraigned later in Niagara Falls City Court.
'Over a basketball game, a real tragedy,' said Lt. Frank Granto of the Niagara Falls police.
Granto said investigators were not sure if it was the game score, a problem with the clock or a personal feud that set off the brawl that involved about 40 people, including fans and players.
'We've been getting conflicting stories,' Granto said.
Newton was stabbed in the back with the metal table leg that had been ripped off the scorer's table at court-side, after the table was flung onto the court by spectators. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.
Granto said bricks and pipes were also thrown, and another youth was injured, requiring seven stitches in the head.
The New York City team had played the same Niagara Falls team the night before, and Granto said investigators were checking to see if there was a feud of some sort as a result of that game.
The victim was the captain of the Long Island City High School team, where he played guard and had averaged more than 20 points a game. He was due to graduate in June, and had a full scholarship to Westchester Community College in the fall.