Pineville, North Carolina — A North Carolina man is facing a first-degree murder charge after police say he broke into his former girlfriend’s apartment and fatally stabbed his 5-year-old son before leaving the scene and later being arrested at a nearby Taco Bell.
The tragic incident unfolded shortly after midnight Thursday at the Sabal Point Apartments in Pineville, prompting a rapid response from local law enforcement and emergency personnel.
According to the Pineville Police Department, officers were dispatched following reports of an assault involving a deadly weapon.
Police Found Child With Multiple Stab Wounds
When officers arrived at the apartment, they discovered the young boy suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Police immediately began providing emergency medical care before transporting the child to a nearby hospital in a patrol vehicle in an effort to save his life.
Despite those efforts, the 5-year-old boy was later pronounced dead. Authorities have not publicly released the child’s name because of his age.
Mother Describes Moments Before the Attack
According to an arrest affidavit cited by local media, the suspect’s ex-girlfriend told investigators that Jehaaz-Akil Khaliq Echoles, 31, allegedly kicked in the apartment door before entering the residence.
She told police that Echoles went directly into their son’s bedroom and shut the door behind him.
After hearing a disturbance, she reportedly entered the room and found her son bleeding and unresponsive with multiple stab wounds to his head, neck and arms.
According to the affidavit, Echoles fled the apartment before she immediately called 911 for help. The woman and another child who was inside the apartment at the time were not physically injured, police said.
Suspect Arrested at Nearby Taco Bell
Investigators said officers later located and arrested Echoles at a nearby Taco Bell a short time after the incident. Police described the case as a domestic-related incident and said there is no indication it was a random act of violence.
Authorities have not publicly identified a motive for the attack, and the investigation remains ongoing.
2-Year-Old Florida Girl Dies in Hot Car After Babysitter Allegedly Leaves Her Inside for Hours
Suspect Had Previous Assault Cases, Records Show
Court records indicate Echoles has a previous criminal history involving assault-related offenses.
According to authorities, he was previously convicted in North Carolina for assault on a woman stemming from an incident in October 2020.
He has also faced several other assault-related cases, including allegations this year involving two separate women.
In one case, investigators allege he assaulted a woman with a belt. In another, he allegedly threw keys at a woman after borrowing her vehicle and refusing to return it.
Those allegations are separate from the current homicide case and remain subject to the legal process. Echoles is currently being held at the Mecklenburg County Jail without bond. His next scheduled court appearance is July 30.
The allegations against the defendant have not been proven in court. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
What are your thoughts on this tragic case? What more can communities and support services do to help prevent domestic violence from escalating into tragedies involving children? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
