FUQUAY-VARINA - A Holly Springs man was arrested Thursday and charged with child abuse and attempting to kill his 7-month-old son in December.

Carlos Lemar Murray of 616 Guerin Road was arrested at 634 Angier Road in Fuquay-Varina. Murray, 23, was charged with two counts of child abuse with serious bodily injury and one count of attempted murder, Fuquay-Varina police said.

Wake County Human Services contacted Fuquay-Varina police on Jan. 5 to report that the 7-month-old was displaying symptoms of shaken-baby syndrome, said Susan Weis, Fuquay-Varina police spokeswoman. Both of the child's eyes were swollen nearly shut, and he had bruising on the bridge of his nose, according to Murray's arrest warrant.

The human services report indicated that the abuse might have occurred on the afternoon of Dec. 26 while the child was with Murray, Weis said.

Police investigated allegations that Murray shook the child to the point of causing severe physical injuries on at least two occasions. According to the arrest warrant, he also is accused of placing the child in a bathtub and allowing him to submerge and inhale water, rendering the baby unconscious.

The child is now recovering and is in protective custody, Weis said.

Murray is in the Wake County jail with bail set at $1 million.