A man was charged with attempted murder Friday after authorities say he set a 20-year-old woman on fire this month in Harnett County.
On Dec. 16, the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office got a 911 call from a staff member at Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford after Ashanti Downey came in with burns on the right side of her body. She was taken to a burn center where she was in critical but stable condition.
On Friday, investigators charged 23-year-old Jami Raiziah Griffin with attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and assault on a female, according to arrest warrants.
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The murder warrant accused Griffin of pouring gasoline on Downey, who suffered second- and third-degree burns.
Griffin was also charged Nov. 6 with making a threatening phone call to another woman, another warrant shows.
Downey was reportedly walking in the area of N.C. 27 West and Barbecue Church Road “when three unknown individuals doused her with gasoline and lit her on fire with a cigarette.,” according to a media release on Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats’ Facebook page.
The News & Observer left messages with the Sheriff’s Office on Saturday morning seeking more information.
Griffin is being held without bail in the Harnett County Detention Center and is scheduled for court Monday.
Online fundraiser surpasses $85,000
An online GoFundMe campaign for Downey’s medical care and other expenses had raised over $86,000 from 2,000 donations as of Saturday morning.
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“My daughter will be celebrating her 21st birthday on January 1, 2025, and due to the hatred of an individual or individuals, her life will be forever changed,” her mother, Donecia Davis, wrote on the fundraiser page.
“No parent should have to see their child in the condition my daughter is in. I am making her my top priority and have been by her side at the hospital since this incident occurred.”
The page said Downey suffered third-degree burns over 70% of her body and remains in critical condition.
The Harnett County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to call Detective Ronald Beasley at 910-893-0151 or the sheriff’s office at 910-893-9111.
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