Lafayette County man charged with arson after fires in Oxford

The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two arson fires that occurred in Oxford on Monday night and early Tuesday morning, officials said.

At around 8:55 p.m. Monday, Lafayette County E-911 received a report of a barn and vehicle on fire at a residence. Deputies and firefighters responded to the scene, where investigators say 27-year-old Alexander Everett Kent drove a vehicle into a detached shop at his parents’ property before setting both the vehicle and the shop on fire and fleeing.

While firefighters were still on scene, a deputy observed a second fire at approximately 10:21 p.m. at a nearby residence. The fire originated from a vehicle inside an attached garage. Four occupants were evacuated and unharmed.

Law enforcement agencies launched an overnight search for Kent. K-9 Louc tracked the suspect to a specific area, and the Oxford Police Department used a drone to assist in the search. Kent was located and detained around 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Sheriff East praised the collaborative efforts of multiple agencies, including Lafayette County Fire Department, Oxford Police Department, and Baptist Ambulance Service, for safely apprehending Kent. He is currently held at the Lafayette County Detention Center on charges including two counts of arson and one count of felony malicious mischief. The investigation remains ongoing, and no further details have been released.

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