UK & World News
- 24 October 2012, 12:06
Woman 'Set Herself On Fire In Staged KKK Attack'
A woman who told police she had been subjected to a racist attack in which three men set her alight and scrawled KKK on her car was lying, according to US investigators.
"The wounds were self-inflicted," said Kyle Hanrahan, a spokesman for the FBI's Louisiana bureau.
Sharmeka Moffitt, 20, was seriously burned in the fire and remains in a critical condition.
She called police from a park in the town of Winnsboro on Sunday night and told them three men in white hoodies had doused her with a flammable liquid and ignited it.
The letters KKK, for the white supremacist organisation Ku Klux Klan, and a racial slur were scrawled on her car in what appeared to be toothpaste.
According to local media, investigators decided the burns were self-inflicted after finding Ms Moffitt's fingerprints on a cigarette lighter and lighter fluid.
Louisiana's KATC News reported her family had issued a statement saying: "Our family is devastated to learn the circumstances surrounding our daughter's injuries.
"While this was not the resolution we had expected, it is a resolution, and we appreciate the thorough investigation by the local and state police as well as federal agencies.
"We are sincerely sorry for any problems this may have caused and wish to express our appreciation for the outpouring of love, prayers and support we have received from friends, acquaintances, church organisations and government officials."
The FBI was called in to assist local authorities because the apparent attack was initially considered a possible hate crime.
Update:
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what do you think?
Anthony Smith
I am frowning
ffreem200
I've lost my sympathy for this women
Colin Tiso
what ever sympathy she had from anyone has now been lost in the wind
Christopher Hodson
This has proberbly set back racial harmony for many years between the coloured community and the white community if she deliberatley set herself on fire. If this was a stunt to highlight the history of negro America and it went badly wrong then what a price to pay.
gengisken1227
What racial harmony? Both communities have segrated themselves for all the obvious reasons, no way is America a melting pot.
Jeem Bob
"Coloured community"? You do realise that is not considered an acceptable phrase and hasn't been for many years right?
Anthony Oates
She should be charged for wasting police time, and for the medical treatment she is receiving. Then once she has recovered, she should be charged with racism so she can be made an example of. The race card is played far too often for all the wrong reasons!!!!
Colin Tiso
well said anthony
Adj Jackson
I also commented saying I didn't think it was the KKK seems I was bang on she needs a padded cell. The racial damage this lady could have caused could have lead to lots of blood shed and revenge murders
Dave Harrison
Too right Adj. The stupid stunt could easily have led to riots on the streets and caused untold trouble
Sally Jolly
What a silly sick woman. She clearly feels there IS still hate crime in the Southern States but to actually CREATE one rather defeats the objective. Munchauser's syndrome .. but what a way to do it?! Mind you this is not dissimilar to the lengths our own press will go to "report" a story ... I feel so sorry for her family and the fact that REAL racial attacks may not be taken so seriously thanks to her actions.
Robert Hare
excactly sally
Windows Live User
She could easily have kicked off a lot of trouble and with her family shouting for blood in the press. Dont think anyone made any friends here
Lorgar Aurelian
Attention-seeker. Thought it didn't quite stack up yesterday. I mean, toothpaste? Give over.
Pat TWOMEY
Mississippi Brushing :)
Dave Harrison
When this story broke a day or two ago one person commented "If its true" and was promptly villified by those rushing to attack the racist perpetrators. Now this. It just goes to show that it is worth thinking a while before rushing in.
Adj Jackson
Thats so true Dave but as usual the doogooders get all the shouting rights the ordinary man is not allowed an impartial opinion
Windows Live User
I hate seeing a "race card" being played to gain effect. It is time that those who would got over it
blue side
The lesson must be to ere on the side of caution when giving sympathy. I did say yesterday though that KKK are active in the South and that many black Americans have a high level of prejudice against whites which seems to find its way in to the culture of the younger generation here in the UK despite there being no comparison in regard to how they are treated here. Her scares will be a life long memory of dangerous stupidity - if the story is now true!
bjnk
I have to agree blue side,having seen it in action in various states throughout the US, and been on the recieving end a couple of times.
Mohammed Rizwan
Sounds similar to twin tower-gate!
KneecapsNorman
like i said in the original news story, the kkk don't even exist anymore so it was obvious they hadn't done it. what a ridiculous thing to do, does she really hate white ppl that much?
snape
they used to lynch themseves and blame it on the kkk , well i'm glad the truth is finaly out.
Kimberley Lamb
4:27am on 24/10/2012
I commented on the original post yesterday , this story today makes the story all a little more tragic . What was this woman thinking and why??? Sadly her actions will stay with her a very long time and her act that was supposed to raise awareness off this terrible organisation has now fell on deaf ears , I hope her burns heal but sadly the scars will never fade :-(
ali baba
10:57am on 24/10/2012
Nice post Kim. Very sad she lied. But also very sad she wanted to set herself alight. Hopefully she will get some much needed help.
Colin Tiso
11:22am on 24/10/2012
why why why did she do it she must be sick or stupid surely she must have know she would get found out when the fbi were asked to help investigate her own fingers prints on the fuel can and lighter mmmmmmmm
Pat TWOMEY
2:50pm on 24/10/2012
Sadly her actions will stay with her a very long time and her act that was supposed to raise awareness off this terrible organisation has now fell on deaf ears --------------------- What? Are you suggesting, that ithat s the only way she could do it? A protest, like a Tibeten monk setting fire to himself in the town square after hearing the local Authority want to close his temple due to a lack of fund-s? Mind-boggling statement.