(Photo by PATRICK MEINHARDT / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK MEINHARDT/AFP via Getty Images)
A 23-year-old man is facing attempted murder charges in North Carolina after a horrific attack just days before Christmas. Jami Raiziah Griffinhas been in police custody since Friday, December 27. Police say Griffin poured gasoline on a woman and lit her on fire on December 16. The victim,Ashanti Downey,suffered second and third-degree burns on the right side of her body, per CBS17.
The incident went down in Harnett County in Sanford, North Carolina, near Barbecue Church Road. She was walking alongside the road to a Dollar General. Sheriff deputies initially believed three people unknown to Ashanti, including Jami, pulled over a car they were traveling in, drenched her in a flammable liquid, and set her on fire using a cigarette.
However, investigators have since discovered that Ashanti and Jami Raiziah Griffin were living together when he carried out the attack. Additionally, according to CBS17, cops no longer think other people aside from Griffin were involved.
Ashanti Downey remains in critical but stable condition. Medical professionals reportedly treated her at Central Carolina Hospital before transferring her to a local burn center.
Meanwhile, Jami will stay locked up throughout the weekend without a bond. That’s because of the domestic violence element of his charges and knowing Downey before the attack.The 23-year-old’s charges include felony attempted first-degree murder, felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and misdemeanor adult on a female. He will appear in the Harnett County Court on Monday, December 30, per CBS17.
At this time, police say there were no witnesses to the incident, and it’s unclear if Ashanti is able to communicate verbally or physically.
