Man beaten before Ashburn home set on fire, source says

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Officials said someone set a fire at an Ashburn home to cover up a violent attack.

Tyrone Lowe, 50, was beaten in a home in the 3300-block of West Columbus Avenue before it was set on fire, sources said. His family said he is in critical condition at a local hospital.

"I got a call at 5:30 this morning. It was a detective, and he let me know that the house had caught on fire and that my uncle was rushed to the hospital," Heaven Campbell said. Campbell said Lowe was staying at her mother's home to watch the family dog while she was away.

"They say the dog got out, but the dog tried to help my uncle first. I guess he tried to wake him," Campbell said. The family dog survived.

Sources said Lowe was found in a bedroom around 4:30 a.m. and the kitchen oven had been rigged to catch fire. That fire was struck by 6:30 a.m.

"There's a lot of rumors. A lot of questions. And not enough answers," neighbor Jaime Alonso said.

"Shocked. Why would somebody want to do that to him? He's just so nice," Campbell said.