2 held in slaying of Aberdeen teen

ABERDEEN - Two Aberdeen men were charged yesterday in the slaying of a 16-year-old high-school sophomore - a slaying investigators say was a case of mistaken identity.

Dionicio Russell, 20, was charged with first-degree murder, and Matthew Christian, 24, was charged with rendering criminal assistance in the slaying of Aberdeen High School sophomore Daryn Tolle, Chief Deputy Criminal Prosecutor Gerald Fuller said.

Russell has been in custody since Tuesday on an unrelated misdemeanor charge, and Christian was arrested Wednesday after police gathered evidence that they say ties him to the slaying, police Capt. Mike Haymon said.

Prosecutors allege that Russell and Christian encountered Tolle when the teen was walking home from a bowling alley early Saturday morning and Russell thought Tolle was someone with whom he had previously fought. Tolle was attacked and stabbed repeatedly.