Arrest made in fight near Katy which left 1 dead, 2 injured

A 15-year-old boy was arrested Thursday evening in the stabbing death of a Katy man at a party early Thursday morning in the Katy area, said Terriann Carlson, spokeswoman for Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office.

Carlson said the boy has been charged with murder.

Matthew Todd Haltom, 20, of Katy was stabbed and died at the house, located in the 2000 block of Saddlehorn Trail, after a disturbance around 1 a.m. Carlson could release no further information on the boy who was arrested, but she did say he could face additional charges in the case depending on what happens to another stabbing victim, a man who remains hospitalized in Memorial Hermann Hospital-The Medical Center with stab wounds. It is alleged the boy also stabbed another man at the party.

Joe Eodice, 22, of the Katy area is in serious but stable condition at the hospital while Joe Arnold, 21, also of the Katy area, was treated and released after suffering stab wounds, Carlson said. Sheriff's office investigators said around 60 people were having a bonfire at the house when some “uninvited people” showed up and were asked to leave; the arrested boy was part of that group.

The group refused to leave, a fight occurred and then the boy reportedly displayed a knife and stabbed three people. Haltom, a college student, lived at the residence. Carlson had no other information about him.

Teenagers and college-age people attended the party, which was a chance for young people to celebrate before going back to school, Carlson said. Detectives interviewed witnesses at the party and had some “strong leads” in the case before making the arrest, Carlson said. She said no other arrests are forthcoming.

Anyone with information about the case can call Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers at 281-342-TIPS or Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office at 281-341-4665.