Two people were badly burned at a homeless encampment near Marietta early Wednesday when a man set fire to the tent where they were sleeping, police said.

Cobb County police spokesman Michael Bowman said police responding to a 5:39 a.m. domestic incident call off Noonday Church Road near White Circle found Raymond Matthews, 49, and Wanda Kight, 51, suffering from severe burns.

Police arrested Melvin Hood, 52.

“Apparently, some sort of domestic situation between the suspect in custody and the two victims,” Bowman said. The victims were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital.

Bowman said arson investigators and the police Crimes Against Persons Unit were on the scene, “trying to piece together exactly what took place.”

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State Rep. James Burchett, R-Waycross, who championed legislation to rewrite litigation rules, speaks during a debate before a vote on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez