On August 8, 2024, Paris Police officers were dispatched to the 1300 block of Pine Bluff Street following a report that a father had intentionally given gasoline to his four-month-old infant. Upon arrival, officers observed the suspect, Edgar James Bridgemon, 24, fleeing on foot. One officer chased and apprehended Bridgemon in the 1400 block of Pine Bluff.
During questioning, Bridgemon admitted to giving the gasoline to the infant with the intent to kill. He was arrested at the scene on charges of Attempted Capital Murder and was processed and incarcerated. The infant was transported by Paris EMS to Paris Regional Medical Center and later transferred to a facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for further treatment. As of the last update, the infant remains on a ventilator but is in stable condition.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist the infant’s mother. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
