UPDATE 9:16 p.m.

According to a press release from the Kinston Police Department, on Monday, February 03, 2020 at 7:08 p.m., officers of the Kinston Police Department arrested 41-year-old Venice Taylor of Jacksonville, NC in connection with this case. Taylor was taken into custody during a traffic stop which took place along the 300 Block of East Vernon Avenue in Kinston. Taylor is being processed into the Lenoir County Jail at this time-release provisions have yet to be set. Kinston Police officers will be seeking charges as follows:

Attempted Murder
Malicious Maiming
Resisting Public Officials
Driving with a Revoked License
Failure to Stop for Blue Light/Siren

UPDATE 8:11 p.m.

Kinston Police have a person of interest in custody. No official word yet as to whether this is the suspect. More details will be provided as we are made aware.

UPDATE 5:06 p.m.

According to Interim Police Chief Tim Dilday, the victim has been identified as 24-year-old Khloe McNeal from Kinston. The suspect has not been identified at this time. More details will be provided as we are made aware.

Original photo by: Kenyari Fields

According to a press release by the Kinston Police Department:

On Monday, February 03, 2020 at 10:52 am, a Kinston Police Department officer on patrol was flagged down by a passerby at the intersection of Bright and East Streets. On the sidewalk was a 24-year-old female who was suffering from severe burns to her upper body.

The initial investigation reveals that the victim, who was operating a vehicle that was stopped on East Street, was approached by an unknown assailant who dowsed the victim with a flammable liquid and then set her on fire.

The suspect in this case has been described as a black male of 20-30 years. The Kinston Department of Fire and Rescue and Lenoir County EMS personnel responded and rendered aid to the victim. The victim was transported to UNC Lenoir and subsequently flown to the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill.

This investigation is in the preliminary stages. The Kinston Police Department places the highest priority on investigating crimes of violence perpetrated in our city. We will investigate such cases with no compromise for crime, and continue to seek assistance from the communities that we proudly serve. Anyone who has any information about this case is encouraged to call the Tips Line at 252-939-4020 or Lenoir County Crime Stoppers at 252-523-4444.