A’zaria Shante Burton and the apartment building where she allegedly killed her son before starting a fire (Gwinnett County Police Dept.)
A 23-year-old woman in Georgia was arrested last week for allegedly killing her 6-year-old son, stabbing the child multiple times in their home before lighting the place on fire. A’zaria Shante Burton was taken into custody on Friday and charged with a litany of felony crimes, including one count each of malice murder, felony murder, first-degree arson, and aggravated assault in the horrific slaying of young Jayveon Pruitt, authorities announced.
According to a press release from the Gwinnett Police Department, on Thursday, Oct. 19, officers and the Gwinnett County Fire Department responded to an emergency call before 8 a.m. regarding a fire at an apartment complex in the 4900 block of Springs in Peachtree Corners.
Police said that the caller was an individual who lived in an apartment on the upper level of the complex and heard a fire alarm going off in one of the lower residences.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders reported hearing an audible fire alarm from one of the units on the first level. Firefighters located the first-level unit and made entry, only to make a grisly discovery.
Inside the apartment, firefighters discovered an unresponsive 6-year-old boy who appeared to have suffered multiple stab wounds. The child — later identified as Jayveon — was transported via ambulance to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for treatment. Unfortunately, shortly after arriving at the facility, the boy was pronounced dead.
Police said Jayveon was the only person inside the burning apartment when they arrived.
Officers with GCPD West Precinct assumed control of the investigation and immediately began combing the area in search of any persons of interest. Less than an hour into the search, officers came across an adult female in the area of the fire.
“At approximately 9:15 a.m., officers found a woman behind the building,” the release states. “Her clothing was wet, and she was wearing only one sock. She was taken into custody.”
As detectives were working to determine whether the woman was involved in the apartment fire, investigators identified the woman as Burton and found out that she lived in the same apartment where Jayveon’s body had been discovered.
Burton was initially transported to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries before she was taken in for questioning. Following her interview with police, Burton was booked by the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office and is currently being held without bond.
Police have not released any details on a possible motive.
In addition to the aforementioned charges, Burton is also facing one count each of first-degree cruelty to children, felony tampering with evidence, and possession of a firearm or knife in the commission of certain crimes.
Authorities urged anyone with information relevant to the investigation to contact GCPD detectives at 770.513.5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404.577.TIPS (8477).
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