A man is in a Georgia jail accused of shooting and killing a 1-year-old boy during a drive-by in North Carolina.
Malcolm “Macco” Artis, 22, faces murder charges in the death of Jaxson Clay, authorities said in a news release Friday.
Jaxson had just finished attending a Christmas parade when he was shot in the head Dec. 7 in Weldon, N.C., police said. The child, who would have turned 2 on Dec. 23, was with his parents, baby sister and grandfather at the time, Weldon police said.
Jaxson was taken to the hospital, then flown to another medical facility, but he died just before midnight as a result of his injuries, officials said.
Several interviews with family, friends and concerned citizens helped authorities identify Artis as the suspect.
“Based on the investigation, it is believed that Artis fled to Georgia shortly after the incident,” Weldon police said in the release.
Artis, who also goes by “Little Keith,” was arrested Thursday in Lithia Springs by special agents with the FBI and local law enforcement officials. Atlanta police, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Atlanta, FBI Charlotte and several other branches of the FBI aided in the arrest.
The motive for the shooting is not being released at this time, authorities said.
Weldon is about 230 miles northeast of Charlotte.
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