Suspect in fatal stabbing of Howell High School graduate bound over to circuit court

YPSILANTI — The man accused of stabbing and killing a Howell High School graduate this summer has been bound over to circuit court.

James Lee Trussell, 19, was bound over to Washtenaw County Trial Court after a preliminary examination Tuesday, Nov. 7, in 14A-1 District Court in Ypsilanti, according to court records. He was found competent to stand trial in October.

Trussell is charged with homicide-open murder. He was arraigned on the charge in July and denied bond. He is lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail.

Trussell is accused of fatally stabbing Ari Clarke, 22, on July 4. Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Patricia Reiser previously said Trussell believed Clarke was “looking at his girlfriend.”

"He and the victim were in a verbal argument over something incredible stupid," Reiser said at Trussell’s arraignment. "Apparently, the defendant thought the victim was looking at his girlfriend."

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According to Clarke’s obituary, he was born in 2000 in Tampa, Florida, and was "an immensely talented artist and musician."

"Everyone who was fortunate enough to meet him can attest to his charismatic, kind-hearted, and happy-go-lucky nature," the obit reads. "He had an infectious laugh, and was always cracking jokes and making people smile, wherever he went. Ari was a kind and beautiful soul, with a love for life, his family, and his friends. He was well loved and cherished by countless people — even people who had never personally spoken to Ari knew of him and wished they had.”

— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Suspect in fatal stabbing of Howell High School graduate bound over