Man who set woman on fire in Kinston has criminal record dating back to 1995

Venice Taylor, 41, of Jacksonville, was arrested shortly after 7 p.m. Monday during a traffic stop on East Vernon Avenue.

Police said there's no connection between Taylor and the victim, 24-year-old Khloe McNeal.

Officers are seeking charges of attempted murder, malicious maiming, resisting public officials, driving with a revoked license and failure to stop for sirens against Taylor, who has a criminal history dating back 1995 that includes drug possession and assault on a female.

Interim police chief Tim Dilday said he's confident Taylor's arrest will bring closure to the case.

A police officer on patrol was flagged down at the intersection of Bright and East streets shortly before 11 a.m. and found McNeal on the sidewalk with severe burns on her upper body, police said.

McNeal had been driving and stopped on East Street when a man approached her vehicle, threw an unknown liquid on her and set her afire, police said.

“Twenty-five years of experience and I’ve never seen such a breach of humanity,” Dilday said.

The incident happened a few blocks away from the police department.

Kenyari Fields saw first responders and witnesses help McNeal.

“All we did was begin praying,” Kenyari Fields said. “It was a magnificent scene we saw today.”

“You’re praying for the victim, you’re praying for her family,” Fields continued. “You’re praying for even the person who did it because the person that has the heart to do something like that truly needs prayers.”

McNeal was first taken to UNC Lenoir Hospital in Kinston and then airlifted to the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. Her condition was unknown Monday evening.