A candlelight vigil to honor a 9-year-old allegedly killed by his father in his home brought over 200 people together in McKinney earlier this week.
“​​We are all from different regions. But when it comes to humanity, that still lives,” said neighbor Vijay Ranganathan to WFAA.
McKinney police said a neighbor called 911 on Friday afternoon after the boy’s mother found him unconscious and bleeding.
Upon arrival, police reportedly found Subramanian Ponnazhakan, the boy’s father, stabbing himself inside the home. The child was found dead in the garage with multiple stab wounds.
Ponnazhakan, 39, was treated at a nearby hospital for his wounds. McKinney police said he was arraigned for capital murder and held on a bond of $1 million.
No update was available on his condition, and a booking photo was expected to be made available upon his transfer to jail.
Police have not conducted any on-camera interviews regarding the tragedy, and they have not given any suspected motive for the killing.
Neighbors and other members of their community gathered around the family and chose to leave notes or other items at the victim’s home. Police said they had never been called to the house prior to the incident.
Some members of the community expressed their belief that similar tragedies can be avoided in the future.
“Was this preventable? Absolutely. Seek help. Communicate. Seek help,” stressed Collin County resident Suroma Sinha.
While many details of the incident remain unclear, the community has committed to staying together and showing love to the boy’s mother. Monday’s vigil was a reminder of how a community is needed when dealing with dark and tragic times.
“I know happiness is one part of being part of the community. When it’s not happy is most important,” said Ranganathan to Fox 4 News. “That’s why I’m here.”
The shocking incident in McKinney comes amid a spike in violent crime, especially murder, in the first weeks of 2023 across the metroplex. This surge has been most pronounced in Dallas, where the city council, District Attorney John Creuzot, and other elected officials continue an approach described by critics in 2022 as “soft on crime.”
