Teen Pleads Self Defense in Killing Girlfriend’s Father

The teen accused of stabbing his girlfriend's father to death is speaking out from a Texas jail.

Friday, January 30th 2009, 8:09 pm

By: News 9


Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- The teen accused of stabbing his girlfriend's father to death is speaking out from a Texas jail.

Brittany Herrera, 15, and 17-year-old Matthew Fox were arrested in Fort Worth on Wednesday.

Read about the arrest

Both teens are now facing murder charges as adults in Cleveland County and both awaiting extradition to Oklahoma.

Herrera and Fox are currently in custody in Fort Worth. But, they will be transported to the Cleveland County jail sometime next week, possibly Monday.

While they wait in Texas, Fox is telling reporters he acted in self-defense.

On Thursday Fox sat down for an interview with a crew from television station KTVT. He said last Saturday night his girlfriend's father, Leroy Herrera, struck her, and he came to her defense.

"He hit me in my right jaw one time; it knocked me down," Fox said. "I mean, I love to fight, I really do, I mean, you hit me in my jaw, it just makes me happy. And I got up, and I told him, ‘You know what? Hit me again', you know? And he just said, ‘be right back'."

Fox said Leroy Herrera, 40, came back from the kitchen with a knife and tried to stab him.

"He had the knife in his left hand," Fox said. "I was in front of him. When he came over, when he came over to swing, all I did was grab his arm and push it up. Then it went straight into his right neck."

Fox said he wanted to stay, but his girlfriend wanted to leave.

They went to Fort Worth. Fox said he planned to turn himself in, before they were arrested at a local restaurant.

Fox said he does feel remorse.

"I feel sorry for my girlfriend," Fox said. "I feel sorry for the family, what they have to go though now."

Herrera family reacts to Brittany Herrera's first-degree murder charge

Texas authorities have told Cleveland County authorities they can come pick up the teens now.

"We have 10 days with an adult to go pick him up," Cleveland County Undersheriff Rhett Burnett said. "And with a juvenile in the state of Texas we have five, so we'll be leaving pretty quickly, I'm sure, to go pick them up."

Fox said he's ready to come back and explain what happened.

"I ain't some psycho," Fox said. "I ain't some, you know, retarded ass or something like that, I ain't. I knew what I did. But, as my parents taught me, somebody come to you with a knife, take care of ‘em before they take care of you."

View the entire interview with Matthew Fox.

Friends and family members gathered Friday at Leroy Herrera's funeral to say goodbye.

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

January 30th, 2009

March 22nd, 2024

March 14th, 2024

February 9th, 2024

Top Headlines

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 27th, 2024

March 27th, 2024