A PANICKING teen pleaded for his mom and claimed he “won’t go to jail” following the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old, according to chilling 911 audio.
The suspect, 16, remains in custody after being accused of stabbing Xander Epps to death in Ohio.
Tributes have been paid to Xander Epps, 14, who died after being stabbed[/caption]
Chilling 911 audio has been aired after the teenager was stabbed near a McDonald’s restaurant in Toledo, Ohio[/caption]
The teen called 911 on himself after the fatal incident near a Point Place McDonald’s on August 23, according to a call that Toledo police released to CBS affiliate WTOL 11.
The suspect can be heard in the call alleging to the operator that he had come under attack from several people as he was biking through the area last month.
After saying that he was aged 16, the operator asked how many people tried to jump him.
The boy claimed, per the 911 recording, “It was at least three, three hopped out on me… oh my God, man, oh my God, can’t believe this happened, oh my God.”
He then confirmed he didn’t need any medical attention.
The operator had to repeatedly insist that he “calm down” and explain his exact location, as he had left the scene, and police were seeking him.
He could be heard telling her, “I’m going home… I just, bro, they was trying to, they was trying to jump me, so I just stabbed him.”
The woman quickly asked, “You stabbed someone?” He replied, “Yes, he was trying to jump me.”
Before clarifying that he was at Friendship Park, he added, “I know I’m not going to jail because… I know I’m not going to get locked up.”
He was advised to “calm down” and supply his exact location.
The teen repeated, “I know I’m not going to jail. I’m going to get self-defense. But that’s still f***ed up, that.”
The dispatcher urged him, “The person that you stabbed, where are they now?”
He replied that he didn’t know, as his alleged victim had “run off.”
The confused operator responded, “They ran off? So they don’t need medical attention?”
He confirmed the person still needed help.
Upon being asked to “calm down,” take a “deep breath and stay in one spot,” he replied, “You asked me to calm down? I don’t know what that means.
“I can’t calm down, I’m really stressing out, I just stabbed him.”
Fatal stabbing outside a McDonald’s in Toledo: timeline
A 16 year old is in custody following the fatal stabbing of Xander Epps, 14
August 23: Xander Epps was fatally stabbed outside Point Place McDonald’s restaurant in Toledo, Ohio.
A suspect, aged 16, was arrested by Toledo police and booked into the Juvenile Justice Center on murder charges.
August 25: The Lucas County Coroner’s Office announced in statement that it had performed an autopsy on Xander’s body.
The office said it had “found the cause of death to be a stab wound to the chest.
“The manner of death is ruled as homicide.
“Xander Epps was pronounced dead at St. Vincent’s Hospital on 8/23/2025 at 9:30 PM.”
September 6: Police release 911 audio to the media of the emergency call following the fatal stabbing.
In it, the suspect alleged that he had acted in “self-defense” after “at least three [people] hopped out on me.”
September 8: The accused appeared in court for a pre-trial hearing.
However, as neither the prosecution nor the defense had received information from the police – including the 911 audio – his initial hearing was postponed until September 23.
She later confirmed that emergency responders were with the person who had been stabbed: “We already have him.”
He replied, “You know what that means? I was trying to protect myself… I’m talking too much, I’m on a bike bro, I was riding my bike but they hopped out the car.”
Asked whether he knew his alleged attackers, the panicking teen replied, “Yes… I’ve been having altercations with these guys.
“I want to call my mom so bad, bro, I want to talk to my mom. I can’t believe I just did that. I can’t… he could be dead.”
I can’t calm down, I’m really stressing out, I just stabbed him
The woman replied, “I thought you said he ran off?”
The boy said, “He did, but still, that doesn’t mean anything.”
The operator then said, “listen, he did not die, officers are with him, OK? So I need you to calm down.”
He finally supplied a description of himself, his clothes and bike, before she said the call would be disconnected so “you can call your mom.”
COURTROOM DRAMA
The teen was later arrested and booked into the Juvenile Justice Center on murder charges.
And yesterday, he appeared at a pre-trial hearing that had been scheduled for Monday, reported WTOL.
However, the court heard that the initial hearing would be delayed as neither the defense nor the prosecution had received the 911 recording from the Toledo police.
Assistant Lucas County prosecutor Patricia Wardrop said, “I have, in fact, spoken with the lead detective in the matter who assures me there’s a great amount of discovery, including video, et cetera, but have yet to receive it.”
Ryan Parker, the teen’s defense attorney, told the court that it was a case of self-defense, reported ABC affiliate Action News.
Family pays tribute to Xander Epps, 14
A memorial was placed outside the Point Place McDonald’s after the boy was fatally stabbed in Toledo, Ohio
April Thomas, Xander Epps’ grieving mom, said, “My son could light up a room, my son was hilarious, he loved to make people laugh and he looked out for those who were around him.
“He was having a really good summer, he was happy… I had never seen him this happy, I mean he was smiling all the time.
“I’ve been crying for 5 days straight so… it’s like I went through sadness, to misplaced anger, I guess.
“He was the go-to person when something was wrong; if I was crying or something was wrong, he’d be the one to come and hug me and console me. That was Xander.”
Keegan Patterson also paid tribute, saying her friend, “never let anything bad get to him – no negative energy ever came from Xander – it was always positive.”
Source: Action News
He also voiced his disapproval at the media receiving the 911 audio before the attorneys on both sides.
Parker told the court, “This young man is in custody.
“We have received no discovery. We beg the court to put pressure on the state of Ohio.”
He added, “I woke up Saturday morning very disappointed and surprised to see that the media had received discovery.
“They released a 911 call of my client that seems to be consistent with what I told the court last time – this is the case of self defense.”
As a result of the lack of police information, the boy will now next appear in court on September 23.
The court has not certified the suspect as an adult.
HEARTBREAKING
An anonymous local resident who attended the session on Monday told the broadcaster she intended to show her support for the accused and his family despite not knowing the boy or his family.
She claimed to have experienced a similar jumping by a group of teens in the same area, while going through the park with her grandson.
The woman said the situation was “heartbreaking” for the accused as it was allegedly “self-defense.”
The U.S. Sun has contacted the police for more information.
The defense attorney told the court ABC affiliate Action News yesterday that it was a case of self-defense.
The suspect’s family has sent their condolences to the Epps family, Action News previously reported.
The juvenile deputy prosecutor told reporters last month that the suspect had been on his bicycle coming from work before the stabbing.
Tributes at a makeshift memorial for Xander Epps, 14, outside the McDonald’s[/caption]