Prosecutors on Monday dropped charges against one of the teens arrested in last month's stabbing at Barbara Goleman Senior High School in Miami Lakes.
Frank Acosta, 18, had been charged with aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a weapon on school grounds after police said he stabbed 18-year-old Mauricio Padron with a penknife on school grounds on Feb. 7.
Police said the pair had an argument in the cafeteria, and that Padron waited for Acosta by a stairwell. When Padron charged at Acosta, the two fell to the ground and Acosta stabbed Padron several times, police said.
Padron was later arrested and charged with battery in the incident, while Acosta, who is a senior at Barbara Goleman, told police he was being bullied by Padron, a junior.
On Monday, a judge ruled that Acosta acted in self-defense.
"We're thankful Mr. Acosta was finally exonerated," said his attorney, Frank Gaviria. "We were confident from the very beginning that justice would prevail."
Acosta was not in court Monday, but his attorney said he would hopefully be able to go back to his normal life and graduate high school.
Padron, who is charged with the misdemeanors of battery and interference with an educational institution for his role in their Feb. 7 fight, is due back in court next Monday, March 26 for the next hearing in his case, according to Miami-Dade court records.
