Woman attacked, burned in Winnsboro park

WINNSBORO (AP) — A woman was attacked and burned in a park on Sunday night and authorities are investigating whether race was a factor in the assault.

Sharmeka Moffitt, 20, was on a walking trail in the Civitan Park in Winnsboro in Franklin Parish when she was attacked at 8 p.m. and set on fire. Winnsboro is in northeast Louisiana.

The FBI is investigating whether the attack was a hate crime, said Kyle Hanrahan, an FBI spokesman.

Moffitt was taken to a hospital in Winnsboro and then transferred to the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport.

State police, the Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office and Winnsboro Police Department also are investigating.