An arrest has been made after police in North Carolina investigated a woman who had gasoline poured on her and was set on fire.
According to WRAL, the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call around 6:55 p.m. on Dec. 16 from a staff member at Central Carolina Hospital in Stanford, North Carolina, regarding a burn victim.
Downey has second and third-degree burns from the incident
Officers and investigators confirmed that Ashanti Downey, 20, had been brought into the emergency room for second and third-degree burns on the right side of her body.
Downey’s mother, Donecia Davis, could not believe something like this would happen to her daughter.
“How could they do this to my baby?” Davis said, per WRAL. “You didn’t have to do this to her.”
Update: Authorities have arrested and charged 23-year-old Jami Raiziah Griffin, who they say poured gasoline on Ashanti Downey and set her on fire
Ashanti’s family has raised more than 85K, surpassing their goal to assist with medical expenses https://t.co/IWBt58lFbj
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) December 28, 2024
‘A nightmare for this family’
The young woman was transported to a burn center, where last week, she was listed in critical but stable condition.
According to Davis, her daughter said she was walking along Highway 27 toward a Dollar General when an unidentified person came up behind her, poured flammable liquid on her and set her on fire.
Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats shared his thoughts on the tragic incident. “Its just a nightmare for this family,” WRAL reported he said. He continued, “It could have been domestic related. It could have been a gang initiation. We’re mystified by what’s happened.”
An arrest was made days later
Later on, an arrest was made in the incident. WRAL reported that “investigators arrested 23-year-old Jami Raiziah Griffin and charged him with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and assault on a female.”
At the time of publication, nothing was known about motive.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help cover medical costs
According to a GoFundMe campaign launched by Davis, Downey, who turns 21 on Jan. 1, is still in critical condition and just completed her third surgery.
So far, over $98,055 has been raised to help cover the 20-year-old’s medical expenses, exceeding its $70,000 goal.
