On April 18, 2022, 8-month-old Brixx Ewing-Meeks was shot and killed by his father, 26-year-old Aschod Ewing-Meeks, inside their home on Junction Road in Cooleemee, Davie County, North Carolina. Aschod also shot and killed Brixx's mother, 26-year-old Ashton Brown, and 4-year-old sister Bella Ewing-Meeks before intentionally setting the home on fire and dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Brixx and his mother were found in the kitchen, while Bella was found in a bedroom doorway and Aschod was found at the end of the hallway still holding the gun. Hours before the incident, the family had visited the Davie County Sheriff's Office seeking help, and Ashton Brown had called 911, with multiple subsequent communications between the family and law enforcement that day. Aschod had a documented history of mental health issues, including a hospitalization in April 2021 for suicidal thoughts and extreme paranoia, as well as a history of multiple concussions from football that his family believed may have contributed to CTE.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The medical examiner report (NC_22_1234.pdf) lists the cause of death as "Gunshot wounds." The myfox8.com article further details that "Brown and Brixx Ewing-Meeks were found in the kitchen" and "They had all been shot, and Meeks was still holding the gun."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The medical examiner report (NC_22_1234.pdf) states the cause of death was "Gunshot wounds" and that "the adult male died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound after shooting his girlfriend and their two children." The child was shot by the father, constituting an inflicted injury.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
The medical examiner report (NC_22_1234.pdf) states: "The incident is being treated as a murder-suicide." The wnct.com article confirms: "They are investigating the incident as a murder-suicide and believe he shot and killed his girlfriend and two children."
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The medical examiner report (NC_22_1234.pdf) states the adult male "died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound after shooting his girlfriend and their two children." The wnct.com article identifies the victims as Aschod Ewing-Meeks and his children Bella Ewing-Meeks and Brixx Ewing-Meeks. The shared surname and the phrase "their two children" establish that Aschod was the biological father of Brixx. He is identified as the perpetrator of the shooting.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
While the term "domestic violence" is not explicitly used, the medical examiner report (NC_22_1234.pdf) states that the adult male died "after shooting his girlfriend and their two children," and the myfox8.com article describes the father shooting and killing his intimate partner and children in their home. The fatal shooting of an intimate partner and children by the father is inherently an act of domestic violence.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The myfox8.com article extensively discusses the mental health of the father/perpetrator, Aschod Ewing-Meeks. His mother stated: "In April 2021, Ewing-Meeks was hospitalized due to 'his suicidal thoughts, his extreme paranoia and the nightmares and the trauma he was suffering.'" She also said "Aschod couldn't sleep. He was tormented by nightmares." Additionally, the article discusses the possible impact of CTE from prior football concussions on his mental state.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The myfox8.com article contains several notable details with systemic implications. First, the family visited the Davie County Sheriff's Office hours before the murders, and Ashton Brown subsequently called 911, followed by multiple communications with the sheriff's office that day. The perpetrator's mother alleged law enforcement failure: "There was a neglect on the part of the Davie County sheriff, the Mocksville Police Department... Calls were made, addresses were given... Davie County police department did not show up." Second, the perpetrator had been hospitalized in April 2021 for "suicidal thoughts, his extreme paranoia and the nightmares and the trauma he was suffering," and his mother had requested brain scans for CTE which were apparently not performed. Third, the fire was intentionally set after the shootings. These details point to possible failures in both law enforcement response and mental health intervention prior to the fatal event.
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