Man killed in Vance County fire; son arrested
A man died early Tuesday morning after a fire ripped through a home in Vance County, according to police and the State Bureau of Investigation.
Posted — UpdatedPolice arrested Willie Ralph McAffee III, 27, and charged him with the death of his father, Willie Ralph McAffee II, 53, who was found inside his home on Fulcher Farm Lane.
Authorities said McAffee beat his father and then set the home on fire. Investigators are trying to determine if the victim was killed from the altercation or as result of the fire.
Dorothy Francis—McAffee’s neighbor—told WRAL News that a court order was issued to McAffee after he slashed her tires on several occasions. The second time, Francis approached McAffee’s mother, Dolly, about the situation.
“She [Dolly] said ‘don’t be scared’ and to get a warrant taken out against him, so I did,” Francis said. “I just feel so bad for him killing his daddy.”
According to the landlord, McAffee can be seen on a surveillance video dousing a maroon colored vehicle in gasoline after setting his father's home on fire.
“I got up to look out the door, and I saw two large blazes,” neighbor Wallace Brandon said. “One was at the front door and one was at the back door, like someone had lit both sides of the house.”
No further information has been released, but the road was blocked off Tuesday morning as investigators worked on the home.
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