4-year-old dies after stabbing at Atlanta apartment, police say

4-year-old killed inside Atlanta apartment

A 4-year-old has died after suffering multiple lacerations during a dispute at an Atlanta apartment. Police said the dispute happened in the 1930 block of Alison Court SW.

ATLANTA - A 4-year-old girl has died following a late-night stabbing at a southwest Atlanta apartment, police said Sunday.

What we know:

Officers were called to the apartment in the 1930 block of Alison Court SW around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday for a fight in progress, Lt. Christopher Butler said.

Upon arrival, police spoke with a woman who reported that a dispute was happening inside. Officers had to force their way into the apartment through a window because the door was locked, Butler explained.

When they got inside, officers saw a man holding the injured child and used de-escalation tactics to get the child away from him. Butler said the child appeared to have severe injuries. 

Police said the incident stemmed from a domestic-related dispute. 

Medics rushed the child, who suffered from multiple lacerations, to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – Hughes Spalding hospital, where she ultimately died from her injuries.

The man who had been holding the child was taken into custody before being taken to the hospital for treatment. Police said he appeared to have lacerations to his body. 

4-year-old fatally stabbed in domestic dispute

A heartbreaking scene unfolded in Southwest Atlanta late Saturday night, March 14, 2025, leaving a 4-year-old boy dead and a family in mourning. Atlanta Police confirmed that the child was fatally stabbed during what investigators are describing as a domestic dispute. The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. at a residence on Adeline Street SW.

What they're saying:

Neighbors around the complex said the girl's death has left them shaken. 

"That's hurtful because if that was my little sister, yeah, I will be hurt," neighbor Javohn Hamilton said. 

Hamilton said he heard a commotion outside of his home before police arrived to the complex late Saturday night. 

"We didn't think anything of it," he said. "We just thought two couples was going back and forth, and they was going to go in the house and end it all. Once we heard a shatter of the glass, we heard a kid screaming, and that's how we knew something serious was going down."

What we don't know:

Investigators are still working to determine the relationship between those involved and what led to the stabbings.

The 4-year-old’s identity and cause of death have not been publicly released. 

What you can do:

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, they can call the Georgia 24-hour statewide hotline at 1-800-334-2836.

There is also a National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

For more information on the national hotline, click here.

For more information on the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, click here.