The Fayetteville Police Department has arrested a 26-year-old man for the first-degree murder of a 2-year-old boy.

Police state that on New Year's Eve, a two-year-old was transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center after police responded to a call saying that the boy was unresponsive. The boy died at the hospital. At the time of the incident, the toddler was in the custody of Keshawn Ayers, the mother's boyfriend.

Foul play was not suspected until the Medical Examiner's autopsy determined that the manner of death was homicide.

Ayers was arrested on Jan. 7 and is being charged with first-degree murder as well as felony child abuse inflicting serious physical injury. He is currently at the Cumberland County jail with no bond. His next pre-trial hearing is on Jan. 10.

This was the 48th homicide in Fayetteville in 2021.