Chatham County man charged in murder of infant son

Jeffery Scott Ferguson Jr., 24, of 98 Haywood Road in Moncure, was arrested at Pullen Park in Raleigh and charged with murder, non-negligent manslaughter and negligent child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury.

According to an arrest warrant, Ferguson committed an assault that resulted in Carson Fisher Ferguson suffering an epidural hematoma in the right side of his head and retinal hemorrhages with subdural hematomas in both eyes.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the baby's injuries were consistent with the symptoms of shaken baby syndrome.

"You don't just shake a child," said Ferguson's neighbor, Nora Smith.

A GoFundMe page set up by friend of the family claims the baby was hospitalized after having a seizure.

An obituary stated that the child died on Dec. 6 at UNC Hospitals with his family by his side. The Chatham County Sheriff's Office said they were contacted by UNC Hospitals on the morning of Dec. 5 about the potential case of child abuse.

Weeks after his death, flowers and green bulldozers sat at the burial place of Carson Ferguson. Neighbor Laquanda Jiggetts said the tragedy touched many who lived in the same neighborhood as the infant. She recalled the big turnout at his funeral.

"There were so many people and so many fire departments out there," she said.

Moncure Fire Chief Robert Shi said in a statement that Ferguson had been a volunteer with the department since July 2012 and had been in good standing.

"Moncure is a tight-knit community and the loss of little Carson is a tragedy that has affected everyone who knows the family. It weighs heavily on our hearts and this new development makes a tough situation even tougher," said Shi.

Jiggetts echoed that statement.

"In this community, we really care a lot about our children, so it really hurts us," she said.

Ferguson is scheduled to appear in Chatham County District Court on Jan. 4.