A Texas woman is facing an upgraded charge of murder after allegedly setting her boyfriend on fire at a gas station, causing injuries that ultimately proved fatal.
As regional outlet the Fort Worth Star-Telegramreported last week, the suspect—24-year-old Breana Johnson of Arlington—had at first been charged with aggravated assault in connection with the incident. However, the charge has since been “upgraded” due to the victim—identified as Ricky Doyle—having later died of his injuries. Doyle, also of Arlington, was 25 years old.
On the evening of July 18, according to Arlington police, officers responded to a domestic violence-related call at a residence near the gas station in question. A woman identified as Doyle’s sister told responding police that Johnson had hit her brother before they both left together in a car. Shortly after, multiple calls were placed to a local 911 operator alerting the authorities to a man described as being “on fire” outside a nearby gas station.
When reached for comment by Complex on Monday, an Arlington Police Department rep sent over previously shared documents, including an arrest warrant affidavit detailing the allegations against Johnson.
Per the affidavit, responding officers interviewed several witnesses at the scene who said they first saw the two in a verbal argument inside a white Jeep Patriot. At the time, the vehicle was parked near a pump. At one point, a witness said they heard Johnson tell Doyle she was “going to kill” him. Johnson is eventually alleged to have purchased a small amount of gas, at which point she pumped it into the vehicle while Doyle was sitting in the backseat “and ignited the gasoline with an unknown object.”
After the victim became “completely engulfed in flames,” he got out of the vehicle. The suspect fled the scene. According to witnesses, the victim “ran throughout the parking lot” as multiple individuals attempted to offer assistance. At one point, he’s alleged to have entered the gas station, where he is said to have been observed with “skin that appeared to have melted from his body.”
Citing footage and comments from witnesses, police said they ultimately determined the fire to have been an intentional act at the hands of the suspect, who is listed in an online records as having first been arrested on Jul 19 and held at the Tarrant County Corrections Center.
