James McGrath’s parents established the Jimmy McGrath Foundation to honor his legacy.
The murder trial of Raul Valle, who is accused of stabbing Fairfield Prep Student-athlete James McGrath to death, 23, during a fight at a Shelton house party three years ago, started on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
Valle has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and assault. If convicted, he could be sentenced to decades behind bars.
He previously rejected a 40-year plea deal in the case. Though he was 16 at the time of the fight and is now an adult, Valle is facing the charges in adult court.
The case was transferred soon after Valle’s arrest in 2022 because of a state law automatically transferring juvenile murder cases to adult court when the defendant is 15 or older.
Police said in an arrest warrant affidavit that Valle and other students from St. Joseph High School in Trumbull had been at a party on Lazy Brook Road in Shelton on May 14, 2022.
A group of students from Shelton High School turned up at the party, resulting in an initial altercation between the two groups, the court filing said.
The Shelton students then went to another party on Laurel Glen Drive, but the two groups continued to trade words over a group chat, the warrant said.
Valle and other students headed over to the Laurel Glen Drive party, where another fight broke out, leaving James McGrath and several others stabbed, the warrant said.
James “Jimmy” McGrath’s Tragic Death Is Still Raw For His Parents
Born on December 18, 2004, James “Jimmy” McGrath was raised by his father Kevin, and his mother, Margaret McGrath.
They always supported James in achieving his academic and athletic career. Sadly, Kevin and Margaret lost their son, James, on May 14, 2022.
James’s parents filed a wrongful death suit against the suspect, Raul Eliah Valle.
The 39-page lawsuit, filed by James’s father, Kevin, as executor of the 17-year-old’s, says Valle’s “deadly assault” was “willful, wanton and malicious.”
Following James’s death, his parents established the Jimmy McGrath Foundation in his honor as a way of promoting mental and physical wellness for local youths.
Kevin told News 8 the family knew they needed to do something to honor their son and the many lives he had touched over the years.
In a recent interview with the Connecticut Post, McGrath’s parents said they will never forgive Raul Valle.
They also noted that the pain of losing their son is still raw over three years later.
Additionally, the third annual Jimmy McGrath Foundation Golf Tournament took place in June 2025 at the Smith Richardson Golf Club in Fairfield.
James McGrath Grew Up With His Sister Rosie McGrath
James McGrath had a sister, Rosie McGrath, who attended Shelton High School.
During one of the interviews, Rosie described James as “the brightest light in a room.” She added,
“He was truly one of a kind, he was very special to everyone and he really left such a great impact that everyone will remember forever, honestly.”
Rosie McGrath
As per Rosie’s Instagram handle, she is in a relationship with a varsity football player, Drew Kral.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- James McGrath played football and lacrosse for the school, as well as in youth sports for Shelton and the Connecticut Wolves.
- McGrath is also survived by his grandfather, Thomas Murre, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
- A walk-through visitation took place on Thursday, May 19, 2022, from 4-7 p.m. at the Egan Chapel of Saint Ignatius of Loyola at Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Rd., Fairfield.
- A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Theresa Church, 5301 Main St., Trumbull, on Friday, May 20, 2022, at 11:00 a.m.
