Man Doused In Gasoline, Lit On Fire In RivCo Attack: Police

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A parolee accused of setting a 52-year-old man ablaze at a Moreno Valley house, inflicting life-threatening injuries, was charged Tuesday with attempted murder and other felonies.

Richard Shane Hampton, 35, was arrested Friday morning after the alleged attack in the 14600 block of Muirfield Street, in a gated community just off of Moreno Beach Drive.

Along with the attempted murder count, Hampton is charged with assault resulting in great bodily injury, arson resulting in great bodily injury, arson to property and vandalism exceeding $5,000 in damage.

The defendant, who is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside, was slated to make his initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

According to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Jaime Hernandez, the attack happened about 7 a.m. Friday during a confrontation inside the two-story home, though the circumstances were unclear. Police said they were called to investigate an assault.

"When officers arrived they located a victim who had been doused with gasoline and lit on fire," Hernandez said in a news release.

The 52-year-old victim was rushed to the hospital, according to the sergeant.

"It is unknown if the victim will survive," he said.

As of this week, the man remained in serious condition, officials said.

Hampton left the Muirfield property before deputies arrived but was located nearby and taken into custody without incident about 8 a.m. Friday, according to Hernandez.

The defendant is on active parole, but his convictions were in another jurisdiction and not listed.

— City News Service contributed to this report.