A North Carolina man has been charged with the murder of his mother and the attempted murder of a bail bondsman in an axe attack earlier this month.

The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office said on Monday it was called to the scene by a bondsman shortly after 3 p.m. on December 16 for an assault in progress. The bondsman reported that a woman was on the scene unresponsive and another bondsman had been hit by an axe.

The suspect, later identified as 46-year-old Caleb Jones, barricaded himself in the home while detectives and a neighbor helped medics get to the victims, who were transported to an area hospital.

Linda Hall, the suspect’s 73-year-old mother, was later life-flighted to another hospital but succumbed to undescribed injuries.

Investigators told WNCN that the bail bondsmen were at the home because Jones skipped out on an October court appearance. Captain Daniel Shipp said Jones got into an altercation with Hall as his mother was trying to help him, although he didn’t say what kind of help she was trying to provide. After that altercation ended, he went after the bondsmen, Shipp said.

The October court appearance Jones skipped was for violating a a domestic violence protective order, communicating threats, and fleeing to elude arrest.

Jones was formally charged with second degree murder, attempted first degree murder, and two counts of assault with intent to kill. He made his first court appearance on Thursday and is being held on a $1.7775 million bond.