A New Jersey man has been charged with murder after a father was fatally stabbed in front of his three young children as he taught them to ride bicycles on a residential street earlier this month, officials said Tuesday. The victim, identified as Jimmy Chase, 40, of Philadelphia, died the morning after he was attacked around 5:20 p.m. on Jan. 8 in the first block of New Hillcrest Avenue, prosecutors said.
Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey said Davon Holloman, 35, of Trenton, was arrested Jan. 22 and charged with first-degree murder, weapons offenses, and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Prosecutors have moved to detain Holloman pending trial. The case has drawn attention for its circumstances: a family moment interrupted by violence, a street fight partly recorded on a cellphone, and children seen trying to intervene. Authorities say the investigation remains active as detectives continue interviews and review video collected from the scene and surrounding homes.
Police and medics were called to New Hillcrest Avenue just after 5 p.m. on Jan. 8 for a report of a stabbing. Officers found Chase in the street with several stab wounds to the torso and began lifesaving efforts before he was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton. He was pronounced dead the next morning. Investigators said Holloman, who is dating the children’s mother, was involved in a fight with Chase that escalated quickly. “Most of the altercation was captured on a cellphone video and his three small children can be seen trying to break up the fight,” Marbrey said in a written statement. Detectives collected video, canvassed the block and documented the scene into the evening while neighbors watched from porches as squad cars and crime scene units lined the street.
Holloman faces first-degree murder, third- and fourth-degree weapons counts, and three third-degree counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He was taken into custody in Trenton on Jan. 22 without incident, officials said. Prosecutors filed a motion to keep him jailed pending trial, citing the seriousness of the offenses and the evidence gathered so far. The victim’s relatives identified Chase as the father of the three boys who were present. A family statement shared publicly described him as a devoted parent who spent the evening teaching and encouraging the children as daylight faded. No other injuries were reported at the scene. Authorities have not released the ages of the children and said witness identities are being protected while interviews continue.
Chase’s killing happened on a short residential block near side streets and single-family homes not far from the Trenton line. The time—just after the commute—brought passersby and residents to their doors as police set up tape and flooded the area with lights. Investigators photographed the roadway, collected items they identified as potential evidence, and sought additional recordings from doorbell cameras and phones. The next day, officials confirmed Chase’s death and appealed for tips. Two and a half weeks later, prosecutors announced Holloman’s arrest and detailed the charges, noting the video that captured much of the confrontation. The office also said the children’s presence underpins the endangerment counts, a third-degree offense in New Jersey when a child is placed at risk by an adult’s actions.
Relatives said Chase split his time between Philadelphia and New Jersey and was active in his community. In a public fundraiser set up by his sister, Latoya Chase, the family wrote that he had been outside “teaching his three sons how to ride their bikes” when he was attacked, and they called the killing a devastating loss for the boys. The page described him as generous with his time and steady in his role as a father. Friends posted messages remembering backyard gatherings and weekend practices in neighborhood parks. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office did not identify the children or describe their view of the events beyond noting they tried to intervene during the altercation.
Authorities have not released a possible motive for the fight. Prosecutors said Holloman was in a relationship with the boys’ mother and that the confrontation with Chase, the boys’ father, became physical. Officials did not discuss prior calls for service to the address or whether any protection orders existed. Investigators are reviewing clips recorded by witnesses and doorbell cameras to assemble a timeline and to determine whether any threats or weapons were displayed before the stabbing. The office said it would release additional details as they are confirmed through interviews and forensic analysis.
Under New Jersey law, a probable cause complaint and supporting affidavits outline the allegations before a detention hearing, where a judge weighs the risk of flight and danger to the community. Prosecutors said they filed a motion to detain Holloman; a hearing date has not yet been announced. If a grand jury returns an indictment, the case would proceed in Superior Court in Mercer County. The first-degree murder count carries a potential sentence of 30 years to life on conviction. The weapons charges and endangerment counts would be addressed at sentencing if a conviction is obtained. Defense counsel had not been listed in public records as of Tuesday afternoon.
On New Hillcrest Avenue, neighbors said the block had been quiet after the holidays, with children seen outside in the early evenings when the weather allowed. After the stabbing, police left placards marking evidence in the roadway and collected statements from residents who heard shouting before sirens arrived. The following week, a small memorial appeared near the curb with candles and a framed photograph. “He loved those boys,” a family friend said in brief remarks relayed through the fundraiser, adding that the sons had been eager to show their dad how far they could ride without training wheels.
As of Wednesday, prosecutors said the investigation is ongoing and any additional updates will come as forensic results and interview summaries are completed. Holloman remains in custody as the detention motion is pending. Officials said a future court date will be set once the complaint, discovery materials and scheduling are filed with the court.
Author note: Last updated January 28, 2026.