A Gaston County man suspected of setting fire to a home while three people, including a 3-year-old child, were inside has been arrested. James Richard Pruitt Jr, 48, was charged with three counts of attempted murder, two counts of felony animal cruelty and one count of first-degree arson.
The incident happened on the 100 block of Brian Circle in Gastonia early in the morning on June 11. Police say the fire was set while two adults and the child were inside. All three were able to escape, but a dog and a rabbit were killed.