Police in Pineville say a 31-year-old man is charged with first-degree murder after a 5-year-old boy was found with multiple stab wounds in his home early Thursday, then later died at a hospital.
How investigators say it unfolded
Officers responded shortly after midnight to the Sabal Point Apartments following a report of an assault with a deadly weapon. When officers entered the apartment they discovered the child with wounds to his head, neck and arms. Emergency aid was provided on scene and the child was transported to a hospital by police, where he was pronounced dead.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by local outlets, the boy’s mother told investigators her ex-boyfriend had kicked down the apartment door, entered the child’s bedroom and shut the door behind him. She said she heard a disturbance, opened the bedroom and found her son bleeding and unresponsive. Two other children in the residence were not physically harmed, the affidavit says.
Arrest and criminal history
Investigators located the suspect, identified as Jehaaz-Akil Khaliq Echoles, 31, at a Taco Bell near the apartment complex and took him into custody. Pineville police classified the episode as a domestic incident rather than a random attack. The motive remains under investigation.
Public records show Echoles has prior assault-related convictions and pending cases, including a 2020 North Carolina conviction for assault on a woman.
- Victim: 5-year-old boy, later pronounced dead at hospital
- Suspect: Jehaaz-Akil Khaliq Echoles, 31, charged with first-degree murder
- Location: Sabal Point Apartments, Pineville
- Time: Officers responded shortly after midnight Thursday
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Charge | First-degree murder |
| Suspect age | 31 |
| Victim age | 5 |
Community and legal implications
The killing has drawn attention to domestic violence and repeat-offender supervision in Mecklenburg County. Prosecutors will decide whether to pursue enhanced charges as investigators build their case. The arrest at a nearby fast-food restaurant underscores how quickly suspects can be located once leads are established.
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to contact the Pineville Police Department. The investigation remains active and authorities have not released additional details about a possible motive or whether Echoles has an attorney who could comment.
This case will proceed through the county’s criminal system, where a first-degree murder charge carries the most serious penalties under state law. It also adds to the local debate over how to prevent domestic violence from escalating into fatal attacks, a concern for families and officials across the region.
