Midwest City Infant Critically Burned In Home Invasion, Arson

News9.com

MIDWEST CITY, Oklahoma -- A Midwest City infant is fighting for his life after being burned in an intentionally set fire during an apparent home invasion.

Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes said a man broke into a house in the 9300 block of Sherwell and lit the home on fire at about 3:00 a.m. There were three adults and four children in the residence.

Resident Malishia Cooper was asleep in bed with her five-month-old baby boy and her boyfriend when she heard a noise at the front of her house. A man kicked in the front door and began pouring gas all over the hallway.

"The suspect said, ‘I'm gonna light you up – burn, bitch, burn,'" and then ignited the fuel while running out of the house," the release stated.

Cooper told police she kicked out a bedroom window and got three of the children out of the house while alerting the other residents of the fire.

"Miss Cooper is kinda a hero because she's able to get the three kids out initially…Scream wake everyone else up in the house and tell them to get out," said Chief Clabes.

Cooper ran to a neighbor's house to get help, then when she returned to the scene of the fire she realized the infant was still inside.

Cooper ran to the back of the house, broke out the window and crawled in to save her child. The infant unfortunately had already suffered first, second and third degree burns over 60 percent of his body. The baby was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. The mother was treated at the scene for lacerations.

The suspect is described as a black male, from 5'5" to 5'8" in height with "tiny pig tails" in his hair and a shirt at least partly colored in red.

Clabes said earlier this week the Cooper's roommate was involved in an incident where she called police from WalMart, saying she had been kidnapped by a man named Jevon Hughes. Roommate Shunta Henderson said Hughes was holding her and her 4-year-old hostage in the parking lot with a gun.

Hughes was arrested for possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia, but police did not find a gun, Clabes said. Hughes was released from jail Thursday morning on a $4,000 bond.

According to investigators, Henderson said Hughes was trying to get her to make a copy of the house key so he could see Cooper, his ex-girlfriend. Hughes had also been at Cooper's house on Friday and was told to leave.

"We want to know if there is any connection between the domestic and the kidnapping and this incident that occurred at the house," said Chief Clabes.

But Henderson believes that connection is clear.

"I knew he would come back…I didn't know it would be this extreme, but I'm pretty sure once he saw her with another guy, it was over," said Henderson.

Hughes' attorney called Detective Carissa Southern Saturday morning and said his client refused to be interviewed, according to the release. Police said they do not believe Hughes set fire to the home.

"Right now, our prayers are focused on the baby with hopes he will recover from these painful and traumatic burns," said Chief Clabes. "We are aggressively investigating this case and looking for individuals, who at the least have knowledge of this crime. This is an extremely serious situation which involves arson and attempted murder, anyone with information is strongly encouraged to come forward and contact our agency."

A tip hotline number, 739-1306, has been set up and will be manned 24 hours a day for people to call regarding this case.

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