by Josh Lanier

HUNTERSVILLE – A 9-year-old died Monday, Oct. 10, after he was trapped inside a burning house he and his mother shared, Huntersville police said.

Police and firefighters were called to the home at 13915 Holbrooks Road around 2:15 a.m. Once they arrived, the home was entirely engulfed in flames, police told WBTV, the Herald Weekly’s news partner.

The child’s mom, whose name was not released, was pulled to safety by a neighbor through a bedroom win-
dow of the small, single story home. She was taken to CMC for minor smoke related injuries, police said.

Nikko’las Pinkney died after he couldn’t escape from the home. Firefighters said the home burned quickly and likely would have been difficult to escape.

A family friend of the Pinkneys described the boy as smart, popular and extremely intelligent.

Pinkney attended the Smith Language Academy, a magnet school for language, where he was a part of the Mandarin Chinese total immersion program. According to friends, Pinkey was fluent in the language.

“He was good kid, and he was always happy,” a friend said.

A camp director from a recreation center across the street from the Pinkney’s home said “Nikko” would come by weekly and give counselors hugs and attend summer camp, WBTV reported.

The Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal is investigating the fire and has ruled it undetermined until items sent for forensic testing are returned, Huntersville Capt. Ken Richardson said. The State Bureau of Investigation is assisting the fire marshal’s office.

Two neighboring homes were damaged from the heat of the fire, and the homeowners were evacuated. The families were not injured, officials said.

“The last time I saw him was Saturday and he came and gave me a hug and told me goodbye,” said neighbor Linn Schlierf. “I can’t imagine what his mother is thinking right now, what she’s going through.

Funeral arrangements

A funeral will be held on Oct. 15 at Friendship Baptist Church, 3301 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, at 1 p.m. A visitation will be held at the church beforehand at noon until 1 p.m. A.E. Grier & Sons Funeral Ceremony of Choice is assisting the family.