Full Breakdown
North Carolina Father Charged with Murder After Stabbing 5-Year-Old Son and Fleeing to Taco Bell
7/10/2026, 11:01:32 PM
Incident Overview
Shortly after midnight on Thursday, police responded to a 911 call at the Sabal Point Apartments in Pineville, North Carolina. According to an arrest affidavit, 31-year-old Jehaaz-Akil Khaliq Echoles forced open his ex-girlfriend’s apartment door, entered the bedroom where his 5-year-old son was sleeping, and repeatedly stabbed the child. The boy was found with multiple wounds to his head, neck and arms, was placed in a patrol vehicle, and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The mother and another child in the home were unharmed.
Police Investigation and Arrest
The Pineville Police Department classified the event as a domestic incident, not a random act of violence, and indicated that a motive has not been released. Officers tracked Echoles to a Taco Bell approximately one mile from the apartment and arrested him there. He is being held in the Mecklenburg County Jail without bond, with a next court appearance set for July 30.
Suspect’s Prior Assault Record
Echoles has a documented history of violence. He was convicted in October 2020 of assaulting a woman in North Carolina and faces multiple ongoing assault-related cases. Police reports note that he has been accused of two assaults on women this year—one involving a belt and another involving throwing keys after a car-borrowing dispute.
Community Reaction
Neighbors expressed shock and sorrow. One resident told local ABC affiliate WSOC, “Just to wake up and see this had happened it’s just unsettling and heartbreaking… My heart goes out to the family.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “Just to wake up and see this had happened it's just unsettling and heartbreaking,” — neighbor, WSOC
- “Police said this was a domestic incident and not a random act of violence.” — Police
- “He has been accused of two assaults on women this year.” — Police
- “The boy was later pronounced dead at the hospital.” — Police
The case underscores ongoing concerns about domestic violence and the challenges of preventing lethal outcomes within family settings.