IRVING, Texas — A 22-year-old Irving man is in custody after police say he strangled his girlfriend, threatened her with a hunting knife, and assaulted her during a violent domestic dispute inside their apartment.
On February 21, 2026, Irving Police officers responded after a woman reported being assaulted by her boyfriend, identified as Dillard Nelson, at the Foxborough Apartments in the 1400 block of Esters Road.
According to police, the victim told officers an argument escalated when Nelson allegedly attacked her with a knife and began choking her. Officers observed a visible bite wound on the left side of the victim’s face and cuts to her fingers consistent with her statement that Nelson bit her while strangling her.
Investigators say Nelson used both hands around the victim’s neck, restricting her breathing and circulation. The victim also reported that Nelson threatened to kill her during the assault.
Police said the victim fled into a bedroom to escape, but Nelson forced the door open using a large hunting knife. He then threatened her with the weapon, causing her to fear for her life. A struggle over the knife followed, during which Nelson sustained a cut to his left hand.
The victim provided officers with video evidence showing Nelson holding her cat over an apartment balcony while threatening to drop the animal.
Officers observed blood throughout the apartment and recovered the knife, which had blood residue, in the location where the victim said she hid it after taking it away from Nelson.
Nelson initially refused to exit the apartment and was detained by officers. He denied assaulting the victim but had a fresh laceration on his left hand that required medical treatment.
Based on the victim’s statements, visible injuries, video evidence, physical evidence at the scene, and Nelson’s behavior, officers determined probable cause existed to charge him with Domestic Violence Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Domestic Violence Assault Impeding Breathing or Circulation.
Nelson remains in custody at the Dallas County Jail, where his bond was set at $100,000 by Judge Janice Wolff.
