Kemper County Man Charged With Attempted Murder and Arson

A Kemper County man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder and arson following an early-morning structure fire Saturday in Porterville, Mississippi.

According to the Kemper County Sheriff’s Office , deputies responded at approximately 5:48 a.m. on August 22, 2026, to a reported structure fire at a residence on Tamola Road.

Deputies secured the scene and began investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire. Investigators determined that Kendrick Keontae James allegedly entered the residence carrying a container of gasoline and poured gasoline throughout the interior of the home.

Authorities said a verbal altercation then occurred between James and the victim. During the altercation, James allegedly ignited the gasoline inside the residence, threw gasoline onto the victim and threatened to kill him.

Following the investigation, James was arrested and charged with one count of attempted murder and one count of arson.

James appeared before a Kemper County Justice Court judge on Monday, August 24. His bond was set at $500,000 on each charge, for a total bond of $1 million.

The investigation and criminal proceedings remain ongoing.