KINSTON, N.C. – Police in North Carolina have arrested a man accused of dousing a woman with a flammable accelerant and setting her on fire Monday morning.
Venice Taylor, 41, was taken into custody during a traffic stop that took place along the 300 block of East Vernon Avenue Monday, Feb. 3, at 7:08 p.m., according to the Kinston Police Department press release.
Khloe McNeal, 24, of Kinston was in her car at the intersection of East and Bright Streets Monday morning at 10:52 a.m. when an unknown person approached her and doused her with the accelerant and set her on fire, Kingston.com reported.
McNeal was found on a sidewalk with severe burns on her upper body after a bystander flagged down a patrol officer, interim Kinston Police Chief Tim Dilday said.
“I’ve never seen such a breach of humanity.”
– Chief Tim Dilday
McNeal was able to tell police that she was driving and came to a stop when a man approached her car, threw a flammable liquid on her and set her on fire. Investigators said they don’t think Taylor knew the victim.
“She was in that vehicle by herself. An unknown individual approached her. There was apparently some conversation. A flammable liquid was poured upon her, and she was set on fire while seated inside the vehicle,” Dilday said.
The chief called it a “heinous” crime. “I’ve never seen such a breach of humanity,” he said.
McNeal was airlifted to a burn center. Her condition wasn’t known as of Monday night, ABC News reported.
Taylor faces charges of attempted murder, malicious maiming and resisting public officials, among other counts, the police statement said.
Taylor was booked at the Lenoir County Jail, and release provisions have yet to be set, according to the press release.