23-year-old Jami Griffin, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder after allegedly setting his girlfriend, 20-year-old Ashanti Downey, on fire as she walked towards a Dollar General in Sanford on December 16, 2024.
Authorities received a call around 6:55 p.m. from Central Carolina Hospital staff about a burn victim. Downey, suffering second- and third-degree burns on the right side of her body, was later transferred to a burn center, where she remains in critical but stable condition.
Details of the Incident
Downey’s mother, Donecia Davis, recounted her daughter’s chilling account of the attack. According to Downey, she was walking toward the Dollar General when an individual, now identified as Griffin, approached her from behind, poured a flammable liquid on her, and set her ablaze.
Charges
Griffin was arrested Friday and charged with:
- Attempted murder
- Assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury
- Assault on a female/domestic violence
He is being held without bond at the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Wayne Coats condemned the assault as one of the most heinous crimes his department has ever encountered.
Support for Ashanti Downey
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist Downey and her family with medical expenses.