Holly Springs man charged with attempted murder of 7-month-old

A Holly Springs man was arrested Thursday and charged with child abuse and attempting to murder a 7-month-old baby on Dec. 26.

Carlos Lemar Murray of 616 Guerin Road was arrested at 634 Angier Road in Fuquay-Varina. Murray, 23, has been charged with two counts of child abuse with serious bodily injury and one count of attempted murder, according to Fuquay-Varina police.

Wake County Human Services contacted Fuquay-Varina police on Jan. 5 to report that the 7-month-old boy was displaying symptoms of shaken baby syndrome, according to Susan Weis, Fuquay-Varina police spokeswoman. Both of the child’s eyes were swollen nearly shut and he had bruising on the bridge of his nose, according to Murray’s arrest warrant.

The human services report indicated that the abuse may have occurred on the afternoon of Dec. 26 while the child was with Murray, Weis said.

Police investigated allegations that Murray shook the child to the point of causing severe physical injuries on at least two occasions. According to his arrest warrant, he is also accused of placing the child in a bathtub and allowing him to submerge and inhale water, rendering the baby unconscious.

The warrant describe Murray's actions as showing a "total disregard of human life."

The child is now recovering and is in protective custody, said Weis.

Murray is in the Wake County jail under $1 million bail.