Man confesses to stabbing young sons, killing 1 at Arlington apartment following police chase, officials say

A man confessed to stabbing and killing his 5-year-old son after threatening an officer and leading police on a chase in Arlington overnight, officials said Thursday.

According to the Arlington Police Department, a suspect identified as 27-year-old Heyco Cruz Linares walked up to an officer's parked car on the 1400 block of North Cooper Street at 11:50 p.m. Wednesday and hit the officer's window with a knife.

Cruz Linares then jumped into his own vehicle and fled the scene, and officers started chasing him. Police said Cruz Linares eventually pulled over on I-30 just west of the Belt Line Road exit in Grand Prairie. As he was being taken into custody, Cruz Linares confessed to killing his children, police said.

Officers were dispatched to his apartment on South Cooper Street near West Park Road Drive, where they found a 5-year-old child and a 2-year-old child seriously injured from stab wounds.

Police said both children were taken to the hospital, where the 5-year-old later died. The toddler remains in the hospital. 

Police said the motive for the attack is under investigation.

Cruz Linares was booked into the Arlington City Jail on one count of capital murder, one count of evading and one count of terroristic threat against a peace officer. 

"It's like shocking," said Gissell Bonilla, a neighbor at the Woodwind apartment complex. "It's just sad, it's incredibly sad."

Arman Kamal was woken up by the commotion in the early morning hours. He's lived at the complex for six years and said he'd occasionally see the family in passing.

"Basically, I live there, and the incident happened here inside. I heard police barging in around 12-1 a.m.," said Kamal. "They moved here not long ago, probably three-four months, recent neighbors."

The medical examiner identified the 5-year-old killed as Keiler Cruz-Guerra, an Arlington Independent School District student. The school district released a statement saying, "We are heartbroken for the student's loved ones and friends and are providing support to students and staff who may be affected by this tragic loss."

"Both of them were high-energy kids. I'd see them racing each other, or they'd look at my dog sometimes, all happy," said Bonilla. "I hope the mom is able to go on…with her other kid."

Now, neighbors are left processing what happened in their community and sending prayers to the family.

"I hope they stay strong," said Kamal. "I hope they get through this."