Police charged Jehaaz-Akil Khaliq Echoles, 31, with first-degree murder after a North Carolina fatal stabbing that left his 5-year-old son dead, authorities said. Pineville officers responded shortly after midnight to the Sabal Point Apartments, where they found the child with multiple stab wounds. Echoles was arrested later at a nearby Taco Bell and is being held in the Mecklenburg County Jail, officials said.
North Carolina fatal stabbing — What police say
Pineville police said they were called to the Sabal Point Apartments just after midnight for a report of an assault with a deadly weapon. When officers entered the apartment they found the child injured and immediately began emergency life-saving care before transporting the boy to a hospital in a patrol vehicle, police said.
Authorities described the incident as a domestic matter and said it does not appear to be a random act of violence. The investigation is ongoing, and police cautioned that the initial details reflect information confirmed by responding officers and investigators at the scene.
Victim and scene details
According to an arrest affidavit reported by WGHP and referenced by investigators, the child’s mother — identified in the affidavit as Echoles’ ex-girlfriend — told police that Echoles broke into the apartment and entered the boy’s bedroom. She told investigators she found her son bleeding and unresponsive with stab wounds to his head, neck and arms.
The mother and another child in the home were reported uninjured. Medical personnel pronounced the 5-year-old dead at the hospital. Police note that the affidavit contains allegations and that those statements are part of the early investigative record; they have not been proven in court.
Arrest and charges
Police said Echoles left the apartment after the incident and was later located and arrested at a Taco Bell near the apartment complex. He was charged with first-degree murder and booked into the Mecklenburg County Jail, where officials say he is being held without bond.
The first-degree murder charge is an allegation by prosecutors. Criminal responsibility will be determined through the court process, where prosecutors must present evidence and a defendant may contest charges through counsel and hearings.
Suspect history and legal timeline
Public records and local reporting indicate Echoles has prior interaction with the criminal justice system. Reporting cites a 2020 conviction in North Carolina for assault; that matter resulted in a conviction rather than an allegation. Other matters reported this year — including two separate alleged assaults involving women, one alleging he struck a woman with a belt and another alleging he threw keys at a woman — remain allegations until proven in court or otherwise resolved.
Officials said Echoles’ next court date is scheduled for July 30. He remains in custody while investigators and prosecutors continue to review evidence and prepare filings. Any additional charges or refinements to the case will depend on the outcome of investigative steps, including forensic testing and witness interviews.
What is known and what remains unclear
Known: Pineville police responded to the Sabal Point Apartments shortly after midnight. Officers found a 5-year-old with multiple stab wounds to the head, neck and arms. Echoles was arrested at a nearby Taco Bell and charged with first-degree murder. These elements — the response, the victim’s injuries, the arrest and the filing of a first-degree murder charge — are confirmed by police statements and the arrest record.
Unclear: Investigators have not publicly established a motive. While police called the incident a domestic matter, officials have not released information tying a specific dispute or provocation to the alleged attack. Forensic details — including a precise timeline of events inside the apartment, the full contents of the arrest affidavit, and the results of any physical or forensic testing — were not released in the initial reports.
It also remains unclear whether prosecutors will bring additional charges, whether other people will be interviewed or charged, or whether new evidence might alter the scope of the investigation. Police said they will release more verified information as it becomes available.
What comes next
The case will proceed through the Mecklenburg County court system. Pretrial matters such as arraignment, bond hearings, discovery and motions typically occur before any trial scheduling. The July 30 hearing is expected to address initial procedural steps and scheduling; further court dates will be set as the case develops.
Families and community members with questions about safety or witness information are typically asked to contact Pineville police or the investigating agency. Law enforcement emphasized the sensitive nature of cases involving young children and asked the public to rely on verified statements from investigators as the matter progresses.
Background
Early reporting in a homicide investigation can change as new evidence is reviewed and corroborated. Charges are allegations; the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Police and prosecutors will continue investigative and legal work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
Source: Fox News. The arrest affidavit was reported by WGHP (WGHP / MyFox8) and has been cited in initial law enforcement statements.
