Baltimore man charged in deadly stabbing of girlfriend's 6-year-old son
BALTIMORE -- A Baltimore man was arrested after allegedly stabbing his girlfriend's six-year-old son to death Tuesday night, police said.
Alan Geslicki, 32, is charged with first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault and weapons charges.
Officers responded to the stabbing around 8:20 p.m. at the 2000 block of Deering Avenue in Baltimore's Morrell Park neighborhood. There, they found the child, Seron O'Neal, stabbed in the back multiple times.
He was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Geslicki was arrested shortly after the murder when police stopped his car and he bailed out, police said. He was caught after a chase that ended on the 100 block of South Carrolton Avenue.
There were a few neighbors outside following the stabbing Tuesday night. They were too upset to talk, but they told WJZ's Jessica Albert they knew O'Neal, his mother, and Geslicki.
On Wednesday, neighbors still were reeling over what happened. One told WJZ's Dennis Valera she was very upset.
"[I was] waking up out of my sleep, crying, and he wasn't even my child," the neighbor said. "[O'Neal] was always smiling, riding his bike, well-mannered."
Police confirmed to WJZ on Thursday that Geslecki was involved in a car crash hours before the stabbing took place. Police responded to the intersection of Reebird Avenue and Cherry Hill Road, where they found Geslecki had driven into a pole.
Police said the initial call for service in the crash was for a possible DWI, but the incident ended up being considered an accident. Geslecki was uninjured.
Mayor Brandon Scott described the killing Wednesday as a tragic loss. He also thanked police for making an arrest so quickly.
"When you have that happen to a young person, who wasn't out running in the streets, doing anything other than being a six-year-old child -- it's devastating to our community," Scott said.
Other neighbors told Valera it's going to take time to cope with what happened, saying it's hard to see children so young fall victim to something so terrible.
"The child was so innocent. I feel like we need to watch who we bring around our children," Jerica Blanding said. "Pay attention to red flags and things like that."
Police haven't released anything on a possible motive.
No word yet on when Geslicki will appear in court for his arraignment.