BOISE, Idaho — The Ada County Coroner has identified the man who died after a stabbing at a large house party early Labor Day morning as 20-year-old Casey Rayburn of Boise, Idaho.
Police say officers and first responders were called to a home in the 6000 block of North Duncan Lane around 1:30 a.m. Monday after reports of a stabbing.
When officers arrived, police say people were fleeing the large house party. An adult man was found on the front porch suffering from a stab wound.
First responders performed life-saving measures, but Rayburn died from his injuries.
Police say their initial investigation found an altercation happened on the front porch and resulted in the stabbing.
Mackenzie Gates, 17, says she arrived at the home around 1:20 a.m. to pick up the victim and some of his friends. Gates says more people continued arriving at the house before the situation became chaotic.
“I came before because I was supposed to pick them up and they chose not to come with me. More people kept showing up and then they finally just let everybody in, and then that's when it got hectic.”
Gates says she eventually left the home but returned after learning her friend had been stabbed.
WATCH | Friend recounts moments leading up to deadly Boise stabbing—
She also says she saw messages in a group chat before the party that she believes indicated some people were looking for her friend.
“I think it was a planned thing because in a group chat I was in there was a whole bunch of texts saying we want to fight people.”
Police have not said the stabbing was planned and have not released any information connecting the group chat messages described by Gates to the investigation.
Gates says she returned to the scene Monday to share what she knows with investigators.
She says she wants whoever is responsible to be found.
“I want to find who did it because he did not deserve that.”
Gates says her friend had been trying to turn his life around.
“He wanted to get his life back together. ... We were supposed to go to church this Sunday too. And that didn't happen, so yeah, I'm just sad. I'm really angry with what happened.”
Boise Police say detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit are canvassing the area for witnesses and additional information.
Investigators are currently reviewing videos taken by witnesses during the fatal altercation and believe more videos can provide important context to the situation. If you were at the party before, during, or after the altercation, police ask that you submit video or pictures by clicking the link provided here.
