Youth Detectives Seek Public’s Assistance Locating Runaway Juvenile -

Published on January 29, 2026

Roberto E. Bryan Jr.

Chief of Police

Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Sgt. A. Caldwell, Public Information Officer

Date: January 29, 2026 Phone: (910) 433-1487 OCA: 2026-001122

All suspects, and persons charged with a crime, are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Persons of interest are believed to have information relating to a case, and have not been charged unless stated otherwise.

Youth Detectives Seek Public’s Assistance Locating Runaway Juvenile

(Fayetteville, NC) –The Fayetteville Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating Azairion Rice (Black male, 14 years of age) of Fayetteville, N.C., who has been reported as a runaway.

Rice was last seen on January 15, 2026, along the 1900 block of United Drive in Fayetteville, N.C.

Azairion Rice is described as:

Black male
14 years of age
5’09
140 pounds
Brown hair
Brown eyes

Azairion was last seen wearing:

Black hoodie
Black sweatpants
Gray beanie
Flip flops or black Nike Air Force One shoes

Azairion is known to frequent the following areas:

Foxfire neighborhood
Westover Recreation Center (Plays basketball during the day)
Smith Recreation Center
North Street
Langdon Street

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective J.B. Wilson at (910) 433-1851.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Fayetteville / Cumberland County Crime Stoppers by calling (910) 483-TIPS (8477). Crimestoppers information can also be submitted electronically, by visiting http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org and completing the anonymous online tip sheet, or by downloading the FREE “P3 Tips” app available for Apple devices in the Apple App Store and available for Android devices in Google Play.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty

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Fayetteville, NC 28301

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