A 23-year-old North Carolina man has been arrested and charged with felony attempted murder after allegedly dousing a woman with gasoline and setting her on fire.
The horrifying incident occurred on December 16, and the suspect, Jami Raiziah Griffin, was taken into custody on December 27.
The victim, identified as 20-year-old Ashanti Downey, was walking near Barbecue Church Road in Sanford when someone poured gasoline on her and ignited the flames.
Downey suffered third-degree burns on the right side of her body and was rushed to the hospital in critical but stable condition.
According to the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, Griffin now faces multiple charges, including felony attempted murder, felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and misdemeanor assault on a female.
Authorities believe the attack may have been domestic in nature, as Griffin and Downey had been living together at the time of the incident.
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Downey’s mother, Donecia Davis, expressed her shock and heartbreak over the incident, telling local news outlets, “How could they do this to my baby?” She also shared that her daughter was preparing to celebrate her 21st birthday just days after the attack.
In an emotional statement, Davis wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to cover her daughter’s medical expenses: “Her life will be forever changed.”
The GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $88,000, surpassing its initial goal of $75,000, as more than 2,000 donors have shown their support.
Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats described the attack as a “nightmare” for the family, adding that the case had left authorities mystified.
Initially, there was speculation that the incident might have been gang-related, but it is now believed to be linked to domestic issues.
As of now, Downey remains in critical but stable condition while Griffin faces serious charges in connection with the attack.