8-year-old Texas boy stabbed to death by grandfather on New Years Day, police say

RICHLAND HILLS, Texas – Tragedy struck a North Texas community in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day. Richmond Hills Police say a North Texas grandfather is accused of killing his 8-year-old grandson on New Year’s Day.

Police said they got a 911 call from someone at a home on Labadie Drive in Richland Hills around 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

Responding officers found an 8-year-old boy who had been stabbed to death.

The boy’s grandfather, 62-year-old Phillip Hughes, was located a few blocks away from the crime scene and was taken into custody for the murder. Officers located an edged blade weapon that is believed to be the murder weapon.

Police say that they are at a loss as to the motive of the killing. The department stated that Hughes was not someone that they had previous interactions.

“We have lots of questions, just like everyone else has. And throughout the investigation, we’ll hopefully be able to answer all the questions and why this tragedy occurred,” said Officer Sheena McEachran with the Richland Hills Police Department. “There’s not a lot of words right now to describe a lot of the feelings involved, but we are doing everything we can to investigate this fully and making sure we bring justice for the family.”

Hughes is currently being held at the North Richland Hills Police Department’s Joint Detention while and awaiting arraignment for capital murder.