‘Mental health is a serious’ Family helps negotiate arrest of Fayetteville murder suspect


A Fayetteville man accused of murder was arrested Friday after a nearly six-hour standoff with police.

The police charged 28-year-old Raeqwon Carlisle with first-degree murder of 40-year-old Cyrstal Loughran.

Fayetteville police and gang units spent hours outside a home on Mesa Drive, working to safely apprehend Carlisle, who had barricaded himself inside after police attempted to arrest him.

Carlisle’s family watched from across the street and helped police negotiate during the tense 6 hours.

“We were out here praying to our ancestors, like, just come outside, just do the right thing and come out here. We got you,” Ayana Butler, suspect’s cousin said.

His cousin says he has a history of mental health issues.

“Mental health is serious,” Butler said. Here, it’s serious everywhere.”

Carlisle surrendered peacefully around noon.

“I’m happy he came out on his home,” Butler said. I’m happy he listened to that still voice in his head and not the many voices.”

As for the murder charge, the victim’s body was found in a wooded area off Fieldcrest and Cedric Street on Oct. 11.

Loved ones left behind flowers, balloons, and a teddy bear near that spot.

Family members previously told WRAL news that Loughran was a wonderful woman who didn’t know a stranger.

Carlisle has a criminal record and recently served a prison sentence for an unrelated incident, which he was released from just over a month ago.

WRAL News was there when Carlisle was taken into custody shortly before 12:30 p.m.

Police said Loughran was killed on Oct. 11 at Fieldcrest and Cedric streets. A man found her body while looking for his lost dog.


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