Police: Dad Fikri Erdem stabs son to death in murder-suicide attempt

Gwinnnett County Police Department say a man killed his 12-year-old son and then tried to kill himself in a murder-suicide attempt before calling 911.

Police responded to First Baptist Church on Main Street in Lilbu around 9:15 p.m. on Monday and discovered the grisly scene. The father and son were found in a white pickup truck in the parking lot of the church. Responding officers said they both had "obvious trauma."

In what Lilbu police say was intended to be a murder-suicide, 47-year-old Fikri Erdem slashed his son's throat and then cut himself numerous times on the arms. Struggling to breathe, he then called 911.

Lilbu police said a father killed his special needs son after parking among these church vans, then tried to kill himself  

Struggling to breath, Erdem told dispatchers he killed his son, Hakan, who has special needs, and then tried to kill himself.

Detectives found a large kitchen knife in the truck.

The victim's mother, Gunes Erdem, 38, arrived on the scene shortly after EMS because she said he got a call from her husband. She told police that her husband left a voicemail saying he was sorry, and to tell their daughters that he was sorry.

Gunes Erdem told detectives that her husband hadn't slept in 10 days, and their son yelled and screamed a great deal and required constant care.

Hakan attended special needs classes at a nearby middle school and neighbors said that his father spent of time with him.

The dad is at Gwinnett Medical Center recovering from his injuries. He's charged with malice murder, police said.