What happened to Ashanti Downey? GoFundMe raises over $60,000 for North Carolina woman set on fire

Ashanti Downey, a 20-year-old young woman from North Carolina, was set on fire on 16 December and is suffering from second- and third-degree burns down the right side of her body.

As per Newsweek, when law enforcement arrived at the hospital, they discovered that Ashanti Downey had been walking with her mother, Donecia Davis, along Highway 27, heading toward a Dollar General store. It was then that three unidentified individuals allegedly came up behind her, doused her with gasoline, and set her on fire with a cigarette. Around 7 pm on 16 December, staff at Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford alerted the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office about the gruesome incident.

Sheriff of Harnett County, Wayne Coats, gave updates about the investigation as reported by The New York Post. He said:

“It’s just a nightmare for this family. It could have been domestic-related. It could have been a gang initiation. We’re mystified by what’s happened.”

He urged anyone with any information to come forward and help the authorities in their investigation. Anyone with details can call Det. Ronald Beasley at 910-893-0151, the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office at 910-893-9111, the tip line at 910-893-0300, or submit a tip at P3Tips.com.

This brutal news comes days before another incident on 22 December, where a woman traveling on an NYC subway was set on fire by a Guatemalan migrant.

GoFundMe account for Ashanti Downey

Ashanti Downey's mother, Donecia Davis, has set up a fundraiser with the goal of $75K; the campaign has managed to raise over $60K already. According to Davis, Ashanti Downey has 'sustained 3rd-degree burns over 70% of her body and is now in critical condition.' Davis has set up the account to help with medical expenses and unpaid leave costs while supporting her daughter’s recovery.

In the description of the GoFundMe campaign, she said:

"Medical bills from current and future surgeries, ongoing treatment, and rehab. While my insurance will contribute toward some of the cost, there will still be additional expenses not covered by insurance."

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"I myself have submitted FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) and will be without pay from my job for the next 12 weeks to help assist with her recovery in every way I possibly can."

Davis also mentioned that Ashanti is set to turn 21 on January 1, 2025, and how heartbroken she is to see her daughter suffering because of 'hatred from individuals.' She also mentioned that she would not want to share the information about the hospital where Ashanti Downey is admitted for her safety.

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