Demetri Niji McGruder, 24, was found fatally stabbed just after midnight on April 15, 2026 inside an apartment on Ruffner Drive in the Crossings at Cornelius apartment complex in Cornelius, North Carolina. Cornelius Police Department officers responded to a reported domestic disturbance call at the complex and located McGruder suffering from a critical stab wound.
Despite immediate life-saving efforts by first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident occurred in a quiet residential complex off Statesville Road in the northern part of Cornelius, a suburban town known for its family-oriented neighborhoods and proximity to Lake Norman.
Cornelius police quickly identified 23-year-old Makayla Hooks as the suspect in the stabbing death of Demetri Niji McGruder at the Ruffner Drive apartment. Officers took Hooks into custody without incident shortly after arriving at the scene.
She was transported to the Mecklenburg County Jail and formally charged with second-degree murder. The investigation determined that the altercation was domestic in nature, with no other individuals injured during the incident that unfolded inside the apartment unit.
The Cornelius and broader Mecklenburg County communities have been left shocked and saddened by the violent death of Demetri Niji McGruder at the Crossings at Cornelius apartment complex on Ruffner Drive. Family members described him as a kind and ambitious young man whose loss has devastated loved ones.
Cornelius Police Department detectives are conducting an active homicide investigation into the stabbing death of Demetri Niji McGruder at the apartment on Ruffner Drive. The case remains open as officers review evidence from the scene and interview witnesses.
No additional suspects are being sought at this time, and authorities have confirmed the incident was isolated to the domestic altercation inside the unit. The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office is now handling the prosecution of Makayla Hooks on the second-degree murder charge.
Neighbors near Ruffner Drive in the Crossings at Cornelius apartment complex have voiced sorrow and called for greater awareness following the fatal stabbing of Demetri Niji McGruder. The residential complex, known for its family-friendly atmosphere and convenient location near Lake Norman, has seen an outpouring of condolences as residents reflect on the loss in their own community. Local leaders have emphasized the importance of domestic violence prevention resources while offering support to McGruder’s family during this difficult time.
