Teen charged with murdering 12-year-old girl, assaulting 9-year-old in Wake County
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- Jackson Borrello, 16, is charged with killing a 12-year-old and assaulting a 9-year-old.
- First responders found the two children injured at a home in Wake County on Monday.
- Borrello was being held without bail Tuesday.
A Wake County teen is facing multiple charges after allegedly killing a 12-year-old girl and assaulting another child Monday.
Jackson Dylan Borrello, 16, was arrested Tuesday on charges of murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury, according to court documents.
Deputies with the Wake County Sheriff’s Office were called to a home in the 1200 block of Tobacco Barn Road near Fuquay-Varina about 5:20 p.m. Monday, according to a news release. First responders found two victims, who were taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, the release said.
Borrello’s address is listed on his arrest warrant as being in the 1200 block of Tobacco Barn Road. He was located and detained near the crime scene after a search with K-9s and a drone Monday, according to the release.
He is accused of killing a 12-year-old identified as CB on the warrant. An email sent from Fuquay-Varina Middle School identified her as Clara Borrello.
He’s also accused of assaulting a 9-year-old with a knife and a hammer, the warrant says.
The Sheriff’s Office has not responded to a question about the relationship between Borrello and the victims, but court records show the teen has siblings those ages at that address.
Borrello did not appear in court for his charges to be read to him, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told The News & Observer in a text Wednesday.
Instead, a judge held Borrello’s first appearance where he is being held. Freeman wrote she could not comment on why Borrello was not taken to court for a first appearance but commented in general on why such an appearance may not take place in court.
“When circumstances such as hospitalization prevent someone from being able to be brought to court, a judge goes to where the person is being held to conduct the first appearance,” Freeman wrote.
Borrello remained in custody without bail as of Wednesday morning.
Schools reacts to news of killing
Borrello is a 10th-grade student at Willow Spring High School, according to the Wake County school system. The 12-year-old attended Fuquay-Varina Middle School while the 9-year-old attends Lincoln Heights Elementary School.
All three schools sent notes to their families on Tuesday.
“It is with great sadness that I write this message to let you know that one of our students, Clara Borrello, died on February 23, 2026,” Kris Clark, the principal of Fuquay-Varina Middle, wrote to parents. “Our condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends. “Please realize that reactions to stress and loss are varied and can depend upon such factors as age, personality, previous losses, and relationship to the victim.”
Clark listed different steps parents can take to help their children such as take time to talk with them about what happened and reassure them they’re they’ll be there to help them through this difficult time.
“We will continue to have staff available at the school to assist our students in coping with this loss. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have a need as we navigate this challenging time together,” Clark told parents.
The letters from the principals of Willow Spring High and Lincoln Heights Elementary also said that counselors would be on hand to help support students.
School board members mentioned the killing during their committee meetings on Tuesday.
“I would also like to offer my condolences and my thoughts and my prayers to the families, the staff and the students at the schools who were affected by today’s most recent news,” board member Christina Gordon said at the start of the student achievement committee meeting.
This story was originally published February 24, 2026 at 12:06 PM with the headline "Teen charged with murdering 12-year-old girl, assaulting 9-year-old in Wake County."
