A 31-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly stabbing his 5-year-old son to death in a Pineville, North Carolina, apartment early Thursday morning. Jehaaz-Akil Khaliq Echoles was arrested at a nearby Taco Bell shortly after the incident.
Core Facts & Immediate Action
Police responded to the Sabal Point Apartments shortly after midnight following reports of an assault. Officers found the child with multiple stab wounds and rushed him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Echoles, the child's father and the mother's ex-boyfriend, allegedly kicked down the apartment door, entered the child's bedroom, and stabbed him before fleeing. The mother discovered the child bleeding and unresponsive and called 911. Another child in the home was unharmed.
Deeper Dive & Context
Background & Legal Details
Echoles was charged with first-degree murder and assault on a female. Police confirmed this was a domestic incident, not a random act of violence. The motive remains unclear. Echoles has a prior criminal history, including a 2020 conviction for assault on a woman in North Carolina and multiple other assault-related cases pending.
Community & Official Response
Pineville Police Department officials expressed support for the family and offered resources to help them cope. The Safe Alliance Hope Line, a domestic violence hotline, was mentioned as a resource for those in need.
Investigation & Next Steps
Authorities have not yet disclosed the name of the victim or additional details about the events leading up to the stabbing. The case remains under investigation.