By Khalida Sarwari
Two years after 15-year-old Michael Russell was stabbed to death in his own backyard, his friends and family will gather tonight to remember his life at a memorial in San Jose.
The memorial, which is open to the public, will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Frost Elementary School at 530 Gettysburg Drive.
Russell was killed the night of Nov. 10, 2009. His uncle found his body in the backyard of the family’s home in the 5600 block of Comanche Drive. He had been stabbed in the neck, back and chest.
Three days later, police arrested two of Russell’s classmates in connection with the murder.
The pair, identified as Jae Williams and Randy Thompson, will be tried as adults and are awaiting trial. If convicted, they face a possible maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
All three attended Santa Teresa High School in south San Jose.