Man dead after local car shop was lit on fire, Gray investigators say. 1 arrested

A man allegedly set his workplace on fire before dying by suicide Sunday morning in Gray, according to the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.

Vehicles and much of the structure were destroyed at Stan’s Body Shop at 4250 Gray Highway, according to Crystal Murphy, an investigator and public information officer for the sheriff’s office.

A person was arrested Sunday with a possible connection to the fire, Murphy told The Telegraph.

What happened

Surveillance footage showed 58-year-old John Jackson, the former employee, walked into the shop before it was lit ablaze, Murphy said.

Deputies were initially notified of a structure fire around 8:30 a.m. at the car shop, a news release said.

Jackson “intentionally started the fire by pouring diesel fuel on multiple vehicles inside the shop and setting them ablaze,” deputies said.

Then he died from a gunshot wound in the shop’s office area, Murphy said.

Jackson had worked at the business on and off for years, the sheriff’s office said.

The warehouse, held up by metal beams and a tin roof, had “significant smoke (and) structure damage,” Murphy said. Fluorescent light bulbs burst from heat and fell from the ceiling. The building’s exterior stood up with some garage entrances covered in soot Monday afternoon.

The Jones County Fire Department put out the fire before it could spread to the office area, which only had smoke damage, Murphy said.

Family members told deputies that “Jackson was known to have struggled with mental health issues and alcohol abuse,” according to Murphy and a news release.

No one else was injured.

The incident was still under investigation Monday morning, the sheriff’s office said.

“We ask the community to keep everyone affected in your thoughts during this difficult time,” deputies said.

1 arrested

A person was arrested at a different location around the same time, according to Murphy. Murphy didn’t share many details of how the person was tied to the incident, but said they may have been connected to the building being set on fire.

“If they’re not connected, it’s just a great coincidence,” she said.

The owner of the body shop didn’t know the person, Murphy said.

The person faced charges related to criminal trespassing and entering an automobile, Murphy said. They were being held at the Jones County Jail.

The investigation could help maintain evidence for insurance coverage and other purposes, Murphy said.

“Criminally, there’s not much on my end,” she said. “It’s just more documentation than anything at this point.”

Staff were seen outside the car shop Monday afternoon, but they declined to comment on the incident.

The national suicide prevention hotline has recently been changed to a three-digit suicide and crisis hotline. It is available 24/7 and can be reached by dialing 988. More information can be found at 988lifeline.org.

This story was originally published July 7, 2025 at 10:55 AM.