A shocking and senseless attack has left 20-year-old Ashanti Downey in critical condition after being doused in gasoline and set on fire while walking to a local Dollar General store.
Authorities are still searching for a motive and the suspect responsible for the Dec. 16 assault along Highway 27 in Sanford, North Carolina.
Downey, who suffered second- and third-degree burns over nearly 75% of her body, was initially treated at Central Carolina Hospital before being transferred to a burn center.
Her condition is critical but stable, according to family updates.
Her distraught mother, Donecia Davis, expressed her heartbreak to WRAL News:
“How could they do this to my baby? You didn’t have to do this to her.”
A Shocking Crime
According to investigators, Downey was walking toward the store when an unidentified man approached her from behind, poured gasoline on her, and used a lit cigarette to ignite the flames.
The suspect fled the scene, leaving Downey severely injured.
Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats called the attack “one of the most heinous crimes” his department has ever encountered.
“It’s just a nightmare for this family,” he said, urging anyone with information to come forward.
Family Rallies for Support
Davis has been by her daughter’s side since the attack, detailing the physical and emotional toll on their family.
A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $20,000 to help cover Downey’s medical expenses, surgeries, and long-term rehabilitation.
The family shared an update on Christmas Day, revealing that Downey faces her third surgery soon.
Her 21st birthday, which she had planned to celebrate on New Year’s Day, will now be spent recovering from life-altering injuries.
“No parent should have to see their child in the condition my daughter is in,” Davis wrote on the fundraising page. “Due to the hatred of an individual or individuals, her life will be forever changed.”
Community and Law Enforcement Call for Action
Authorities have appealed to the public for assistance in identifying the perpetrator. Sheriff Coats emphasized the importance of community cooperation in solving the case.
“We need someone to tell the truth,” Davis said. “You saw it.”
Anyone with information about the attack is urged to contact Detective Ronald Beasley at 910-893-0151, the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office at 910-893-9111, or the department’s tip line at 910-893-0300.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously at P3Tips.com.
