A Mechanicsville neighborhood was struck by arson when a man allegedly set a car and a home ablaze, the Knoxville Fire Department reported. The incidents unfolded on Sunday on James Avenue and led to multiple charges against 28-year-old Shameel Stenson. Following the evening's chaotic events, Stenson was found hiding in an abandoned house's basement within the area and has since been arrested, according to a WBIR article.
The Knoxville Fire Department responded to the initial report of a car fire; later, investigators discovered that Stenson had returned to the site after the first incident to set additional fires at the home, as reported by WVLT News. Before the arson, Stenson had reportedly quarreled with the victim, escalating the situation to a point where threats were exchanged, and a security device was damaged, as per WATE.
No injuries were reported in either incident, a fact noted by KFD's Mark Wilbanks and the reporting outlets. While KFD crews could extinguish the flames on the vehicle and home, the community grappled with the unsettling knowledge that intentional harm had come to their doorstep. The three individuals in the home at the time managed to stay unharmed.
Stenson is facing serious accusations, including aggravated arson for setting fire to the occupied residence and arson related to igniting the vehicle.
