TOLEDO, Ohio – August 24, 2025 – A tragic stabbing in Toledo’s Point Place neighborhood left 14-year-old Xander Epps dead on Saturday evening, shattering a community and raising urgent questions about youth violence.
Police say the incident began down the street, but Xander, gravely wounded, managed to run to a McDonald’s at North Summit Street and 124th Street around 8:25 p.m. in a desperate attempt to get help. Inside the restaurant, staff and customers rushed to assist the teenager as police and medics arrived. Despite life-saving measures at the scene and further treatment at the hospital, Xander later succumbed to his injuries.
Authorities quickly moved to secure the area. The McDonald’s, which had at least eight employees and patrons inside at the time, was surrounded by crime scene tape late into the night as investigators interviewed witnesses and pieced together the timeline of events.
Police confirmed that a 16-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the stabbing. In accordance with WTOL 11’s policy, the name of the accused has not been released, as minors are not publicly identified unless tried as adults.
For those who were inside the restaurant when Xander stumbled in, the scene was harrowing. Witnesses described confusion, fear, and heartbreak as the young teen sought safety but was overcome by his injuries. “You never expect something like this to happen here, especially to someone so young,” one community member said, reflecting on the tragedy.
News of Xander’s death spread quickly through Point Place and beyond, leaving classmates, neighbors, and family friends in shock. The loss of such a young life has prompted an outpouring of grief, with many remembering Xander as full of potential and far too young to be gone.
Police continue to investigate the events that led to the stabbing and have not released further details on what may have sparked the violence. For now, the community is left mourning a teenager whose future was cut short, while also grappling with the reality that two young lives—victim and suspect alike—are forever altered.
As Toledo reels from the tragedy, loved ones of Xander Epps are preparing to say goodbye, holding onto memories of his short but meaningful life while calling for peace and safety in their neighborhoods.
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