Raleigh Man Charged With First-Degree Arson at Occupied Homeless Shelter

A Raleigh man was arrested late Tuesday night on a first-degree arson charge after authorities say he deliberately set fire to a building on South Wilmington Street that housed multiple residents connected to Wake County's homeless prevention programs.

Court documents and a magistrate's order allege that Devon Lovegrove-Mosby "unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously set fire" to a dwelling at 1430 South Wilmington Street on the night of March 10. He was seen being taken away in handcuffs and is scheduled to appear in Wake County District Court. He also faces pending drug charges.

Court records list the suspect as Devon Anthony Lovegrove-Mosby, 28, though several local outlets reported his age as 27. The magistrate's order identifies the dwelling as a residence associated with Oak City Care, Inc., the nonprofit that operates at that address. Police described the site as a Wake County-operated shelter; other records link it to Oak City Cares, an independent 501(c)(3) multi-service center that connects people experiencing homelessness to housing, health care, and case-management services at its downtown Raleigh location. The precise operational relationship between the county and the nonprofit had not been clarified as of this writing.

The warrant states that multiple permanent residents affiliated with Wake County Homeless Prevention Programs were inside the building when the fire was set. Authorities did not immediately report any life-threatening injuries, and no confirmed injury or casualty figures had been released.

Under North Carolina law, first-degree arson applies when a person intentionally burns an occupied dwelling, making it one of the most severe arson-related charges in the state. Raleigh police said the motive remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing.

The charge is an allegation. Lovegrove-Mosby is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.