GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Officers arrested a man accused of trying to kill a family by setting their home on fire.
Police took James Pruitt into custody around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and charged him with attempted first-degree murder.
(James Pruitt Jr.)
Investigators said Pruitt set his neighbor's home on fire in Mount Holly after they got into a fight Sunday.
A woman, her 3-year-old child and her boyfriend were able to get out of the fire, which was reported around 4:30 a.m. on Brian Circle.
Officials said the fire was started on the front porch and the three were able to get out the back door.
(Click PLAY to watch investigators search for the man)
April Allen told Channel 9 she had an argument with Pruitt.
"He kept saying my trailer is going to burn. My trailer is going to burn. My trailer is going to burn," Allen said.
Pruitt got caught sneaking around her house, she said.
The home was destroyed in the fire.
"It’s gone,” Allen said. “Everything. We lost everything."
A dog and a rabbit died in the fire.
"My child (doesn't) deserve this,” Allen said. “He keeps asking to go home. ‘Mommy, I want to go home.' I keep telling him, 'Son, there is no home to go to. There is no home to go to.'”
Pruitt Jr. was charged with three counts of attempted murder, arson and two counts of cruelty to animals.
Police said he is a suspect in a series of other arsons in the area.
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