A 29‑year‑old Charlotte man, Aleksandros Soutzos, was arrested Friday night after allegedly breaking into a home in the NoDa neighborhood, violently attacking two people inside, and setting the house on fire. The attack happened near Herrin Avenue in east Charlotte, and Soutzos was taken to Mecklenburg County Jail and held without bond.
Alleged attack on April 3
Police say Soutzos broke into the home before officers arrived and attacked a man using a wooden table leg and a stolen silver pocketknife, then poured gasoline on him. He also allegedly set the home on fire while the man was still inside, though it is unclear exactly how the fire was started or extinguished. Soutzos is additionally accused of hitting a woman in the home with a frying pan. When officers arrived, he refused to identify himself and was arrested at the scene.
Drugs and prior incident
During the arrest, officers reportedly found a dirty glass pipe with Brillo wire and marijuana on Soutzos, though it is not confirmed whether he had used drugs before the attack. Court records show a prior incident on March 22 at the same NoDa home, where Soutzos allegedly assaulted the same woman by grabbing her by the neck and shoving her to the ground. That case led to misdemeanor charges tied to domestic violence and property damage, including damage to another woman’s laptop. The warrant notes that Soutzos had dated the woman he is accused of assaulting on March 22 and again on April 3, but the exact nature of the relationship remains unclear.
Charges facing Soutzos
As of the latest court filings, Soutzos faces nearly two dozen charges stemming from these domestic‑related incidents, including:
- First‑degree arson
- First‑degree attempted murder
- First‑degree kidnapping
- First‑degree burglary
- Common law robbery
- Malicious use of an explosive or incendiary device to damage property
- Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill (3 counts)
- Resisting a public officer
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Simple possession of marijuana
- Misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
- Crime of domestic violence (2 counts)
- Assault on a female (2 counts)
- Injury to personal property
The March 22 incident added separate counts of:
- Assault on a female (1 count)
- Crime of domestic violence (1 count)
- Injury to personal property
The case remains under investigation, and police have not publicly explained what led up to the violent April 3 attack.
