'Mental health is serious': Family helps negotiate arrest of Fayetteville murder suspect

The police charged 28-year-old Raeqwon Carlisle with the 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 six 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," said Ayana Butler, the suspect's cousin.

His cousin said Carlisle has a history of mental health issues.

"Mental health is serious," Butler said.

Carlisle surrendered peacefully around noon.

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

Carlisle has a criminal record and recently served a prison sentence for an unrelated incident. He was released from prison more than a month ago.

"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 Street and Cedric Street on Oct. 11. A man found her body while looking for his lost dog.

Loved ones left 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.