Mother Speaks Out After Daughter Is Set on Fire in Heinous Attack

A North Carolina mother is demanding justice after her 20-year-old daughter, Ashanti Downey, was brutally attacked and set on fire while walking to a store. The incident occurred on December 16 as Downey made her way along Highway 27 toward a Dollar General in Sanford. An unidentified man doused her with gasoline and set her ablaze.

Downey suffered severe burns covering nearly 75% of her body and is in critical but stable condition at a specialized burn center. Her mother, Donecia Davis, expressed her heartbreak, saying, “No parent should have to see their child in the condition my daughter is in.” Downey, who will turn 21 on New Year’s Day, is preparing for her third surgery.

Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats described the attack as one of the most heinous crimes his department has encountered, calling it a “nightmare” for the family. Authorities are investigating the motive and have urged anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s office.

A GoFundMe campaign to support Downey’s medical expenses has raised over $65,870 toward its $75,000 goal.

Source: BET