Murder Suspect Faces More Charges

Defense attorney claims stabbing was self-defense

HARLINGEN - A man accused of killing a teenager is facing more charges.

Basilio Lopez was charged with first degree murder on Sunday. Now the 18-year-old is accused of assaulting two other men.

All the charges stem from a deadly fight that happened Friday night.

An officer patrolling on West Buchanan Avenue noticed a crowd. The group scatted as the officer approached. A boy with a puncture wound in his stomach tried to stagger away, but he fell to the ground.

Emergency responders took the boy to Valley Baptist Medical Center, where he died.

Police arrested Lopez on Saturday. The suspect's attorney says the 18-year-old was protecting himself from an attack.

"They assaulted him," says Noe Robles, Lopez's lawyer. "And Mr. Lopez, I believe the evidence will show that he acted in self-defense."

The teen is being held on a $500,000 bond for murder and an $80,000 bond for aggravated assault.