Murder charge filed in death of Raleigh toddler

DonJuan Cassadary Smith Jr.

A Raleigh man faces a charge of murder in connection with the death of his girlfriend's 2-year-old son.

DonJuan Cassadary Smith Jr., 24, of Raleigh, was arrested Wednesday evening and charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter. The charge was upgraded to murder Thursday.

Police, however, won't comment on the investigation.

Officers were dispatched to an apartment at 3320 Hewberry Lane shortly before 7:30 p.m. to join emergency medical services personnel who had been sent on a "Code Blue" call involving a toddler.

A "Code Blue" call indicates someone is not breathing.

Police have withheld the child's name and the cause of death.

Smith was scheduled to appear in a Wake County courtroom at 2 p.m. Friday.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 919-226-CRIME. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases, and callers never have to identify themselves.



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