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Suspect In Fatal Beating Of Mt. Carmel Student Turns Himself In

Updated 07/07/11 - 3:29 p.m.

LONG BEACH, Ind. (CBS) -- A 19-year-old man charged in the beating death of a Beverly teenager at a beach in northwest Indiana has turned himself in to police.

James Malecek, 19, turned himself in at the LaPorte County Sheriff's Department at about 12:30 p.m. Thursday, according to Sheriff's Dept. Maj. Gary Broling. Malecek was accompanied by his attorney.

He had been wanted on an arrest warrant, charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery, and battery in the death of Kevin Kennelly Jr., 17, of the 9900 block of South Damen Avenue.

The arrest warrant for Malecek carried a $25,000 bond. Police said he posted bond and was released at about 2:45 p.m.

Malecek was scheduled to appear before a LaPorte County Superior Court judge at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, July 14.

Kevin Kennelly Jr.
Kevin Kennelly Jr., 17, died on July 6, 2011, two days after he was beaten at the beach in Long Beach, Ind. (Photo Credit: Mount Carmel High School)

Kennelly died Wednesday morning, two days after police found him unconscious at the beach in Long Beach, Ind., surrounded by a group of people.

Police said Kennelly intervened in a fight on the beach on Monday. Malecek allegedly hit Kennelly in the head during the fight.

Kennelly initially was taken to St. Anthony Hospital in Michigan City, and was later flown to St. Anthony Hospital in Crown Point, due to the severity of his injuries. He died there at about 11 a.m. Wednesday.

An autopsy on Thursday determined Kennelly died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Kennelly attended Mount Carmel High School, where he would have been a senior this fall and where was on the varsity baseball and soccer teams.

Police said that no one else was being sought in connection with Kennelly's death, but said the investigation remains open.

Kennelly's father, Kevin Sr., is a Chicago Fire Department captain who survived a fall in May 2009, when a set of stairs collapsed under him and another firefighter while battling a fire in the Englewood neighborhood.

According to the Mt. Carmel website, visitation for Kennelly will be held from 4 p.m to 8 p.m. on Friday at Mount Carmel Convocation Center, 6410 S. Dante Av.

A funeral will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Barnabas Parish, 10134 S. Longwood Dr., followed by burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Kennelly's name to Mount Carmel High School.

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