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Grieving Father Attacks Son’s Accused Killer in North Carolina Court
A grieving father was arrested after he attacked the man accused of killing his son while they were in a North Carolina courthouse — and the interaction was caught on camera.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said that Marion McKnight is accused of shooting and killing Jamariyae Dixon in the spring of 2025 when he was just 16 years old. McKnight has since been charged with first-degree murder, as well as the attempted murder of two others who were shot during the incident that killed Dixon.
McKnight was released on a $100,000 bond for the murder charge, which led him to come into contact with the victim’s family during his bond hearing at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse in Charlotte. McKnight has been out on bond since mid-November, though he was in court after a motion to revoke his bond was issued by prosecutors on February 17, according to Queen City News.
Dixon’s family had an emotional encounter with McKnight outside the courtroom during a hearing on February 19, and the victim’s father, Shaheem Snype, grew physically aggressive when he confronted his son’s alleged killer.
Snype punched and kicked McKnight several times, according to footage shared by Queen City News.
“He did what he had to do as a father,” Dixon’s aunt, Susan Sherrill, told the outlet about the altercation. “Any father would’ve did the same thing. We’re still grieving. This is a wound that will never ever close because my nephew was 16 years old, and he should still be here with us.”
Dixon’s mother, Lynnette Dixon, also reacted to the fight, which she did not witness in person but saw via footage. “My face smiled,” she told the outlet. “I smiled. That was the first time I had a real smile since my son been gone.”
Following the attack, Snype was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault, inflicting serious injury. He was released from jail on the night of February 19 after he posted a $1,000 unsecured bond.
It is not currently clear if Snype has entered a plea or retained legal representation following his arrest. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment.
Meanwhile, McKnight went to the hospital following the incident due to injuries he sustained during the attack. The extent of his injuries have not been shared publicly.
Also, while speaking to the outlet, Lynnette said that she misses her son. “Every year I got a happy birthday text, happy Mother’s Day, happy Valentine’s Day,” she said. “I never get none of that no more.”
Dixon was shot on May 23, 2025, on Stroud Park Court. Officers responded to a call about the incident around 5:30 p.m., where they discovered three victims with gunshot wounds.
All three victims were transported to local hospitals, though Dixon was the only person to die from his injuries.
An investigation was launched into the shooting and McKnight was identified as a suspect. Police obtained a warrant for his arrest, and he was transferred into the MCSO’s custody.