Deputies investigating stabbing death of Catawba Co. man

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — Deputies in Catawba County have charged a man with murder following the overnight stabbing death of another man near Newton.

Officials told Channel 9 that the victim, 20-year-old Jason Margarita, was stabbed around 2 a.m. in a driveway on Stove Drive following a confrontation with Kevin Haqq.

Deputies took Haqq into custody and have charged him with Margarita's murder. Shalaby Haqq told Channel 9 that his brother was run over by Margarita and that he shouldn't be charged.

He said when he came outside around 2 a.m. he saw a car driving across the roadway and into a ditch. That is where Margarita was found with a stab wound to his chest.

He was rushed to the hospital, where he died.

According to a search warrant, Haqq did suffer injuries consistent with being run over by a vehicle. But investigators said they think Haqq stabbed Margarita while he was in the driver's seat and then Margarita ran him over.

Haqq's family disagrees, saying this was a case of self-defense.

"My brother is a humble person. He's a God-fearing person and he would give you the shirt off his back. He won't try to hurt nobody. He wouldn't ever do violence," said his brother, Shalaby.

Channel 9 reached out to Margarita's family but they declined to comment. Haqq remained locked up Thursday afternoon without bond and will face a judge first thing Friday morning.

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