Louisiana Woman Set on Fire in Reportedly Race-Related Attack

Police in Louisiana say a 20-year-old black woman was attacked in a brutal, possibly race-related crime on Sunday night. According to the victim, Sharmeka Moffitt, three men covered her in flammable liquid and set her on fire before fleeing. Police found Moffitt with burns on over half of her body; she's currently in the hospital and listed in critical condition.


"KKK" and and a racial slur were also burned onto Moffitt's car. And when police officers arrived on the scene, she said her attackers were wearing white hoods or hats, although she later said she wasn't able to identify the men's race. The local sheriff's department denied that Moffitt was wearing an Obama t-shirt, a fact which initial reports blamed for the attack.


The FBI is investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.

The local chapter of the NAACP condemned the attacks, but also encouraged people to withhold judgment until the investigation is complete. However, Otis Chisley, the chapter's president, did note that racism and the KKK are still an active problem in Louisiana. "It's prevalent throughout Louisiana," he said. "It's hidden but it exists."

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