Show summary Hide summary
A Kankakee woman was taken into custody Tuesday after police say a confrontation at a North Greenwood Avenue home ended with a garage set ablaze and several vehicles damaged. Authorities say the incident — part alleged domestic dispute, part suspected arson — left neighbors shaken and prompted an arson investigation.
Officers were first dispatched in the morning to the 800 block of North Greenwood Avenue after a caller reported trouble at the property. Police later said the house appeared vacant when they arrived, but a chain of events that began with a reported domestic dispute culminated in a structure fire before midday.
What investigators say happened
China clamps down on AI companions: users scramble as services disappear
Cleveland signs Mario Hezonja: unmistakable shift in post-LeBron era
According to a police news release, the 24-year-old suspect, identified in online county records as Nazhai S. Hill of Kankakee, went to the residence to confront a 35-year-old man with whom she had been involved. When the occupant did not answer, officers say Hill forced entry and encountered the man with another woman, and a physical confrontation followed.
Police allege the suspect used a flammable liquid during the altercation and tried to ignite the victim. The man reportedly escaped and went to a relative’s home to seek safety.
Fire response and damage
At 11:01 a.m., firefighters and police were dispatched for a structure fire at the same address. Crews found a detached two-and-a-half-car garage fully involved; the blaze was controlled quickly and there were no reported injuries.
Officials estimated roughly $40,000 in structural damage and about $30,000 in losses to vehicles. Two cars inside the garage were damaged, and **heat damage** affected a nearby house, fire officials said. Neighbors on scene described the fire as deliberate, prompting the involvement of an arson investigator.
- Location: 800 block of North Greenwood Avenue, Kankakee
- Times: initial police call in the morning; structure fire at 11:01 a.m.
- Suspect: Nazhai S. Hill, 24, of Kankakee (per county records)
- Victim: 35-year-old male; escaped without reported physical injury
- Damage: estimated $40,000 to structures; $30,000 vehicle losses
- Response: Kankakee Police and Fire Departments; arson investigator on scene
Charges and next steps
County online records list charges against Hill including attempted murder, residential arson, home invasion and aggravated domestic battery. Police said Hill was located by an arson investigator and taken in for questioning.
Investigators continue to collect evidence and the sheriff’s office records indicate formal arrest paperwork was filed. No court date was released in the materials shared by authorities.
Beyond immediate legal consequences for the accused, the case underscores two community concerns: the intersection of domestic violence and fire-related crimes, and the potential for property loss and risk to bystanders. Local authorities typically urge anyone who believes they are in danger to contact police promptly; this incident illustrates how quickly a private dispute can escalate into a public safety response.
