FAYETTEVILLE — Police arrested a man on suspicion of attempted capital murder Thursday after a duplex fire severely injured a Fayetteville resident.
Donnie G. Smith, 36, of 611 W. Moan St. also faces a felony charge of arson, according to Fayetteville police.
According to a preliminary arrest report, Terry Lynn Johnson suffered second-degree burns. He was later taken by helicopter to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock where he was listed in critical condition Thursday afternoon.
Arkansas Children’s Hospital is home to the state’s only comprehensive burn center.
Firefighters went to 678 Martha Drive about 3 a.m. after Johnson reported his duplex was on fire.
Battalion Chief Mauro Campos said firefighters also recovered a dead dog from the home. He said no other injuries were reported.
The duplex, Campos said, had “considerable damage” to the front of the building.
“It got into the interior and damaged it somewhat,” he said. “There was also damage from firefighters looking for interior fires.”
Campos said he didn’t know where the fire originated or what caused it. The investigation continues.
Johnson told police he and Smith got into an argument over money Smith owed Johnson. He ignited a Zippo lighter in front of Johnson’s face, the report said, and Johnson made him leave the home.
Johnson later heard Smith knock on his window and tell him to get out of the house, police said.
Investigators reportedly found Smith at a nearby home. Police said he admitted he and Johnson had been drinking and argued about money.
Investigators said Smith’s answers to most questions were “I don’t know,” the report said.
Detectives took what they believed to be burned hairs from Smith’s hands as evidence, the report said.
Firefighters were also calleed to a second, small fire at the same address just after noon on Thursday. No injuries were reported.
“I believe it involved some railroad ties holding up a retaining wall,” Campos said.
According to Washington County property records, the single-story residence is owned by Kenneth Ernest Hausmann.
Smith was in the Washington County Detention Center without bond Thursday.