NEVER LEAVE A CHILD IN A CAR *UPDATE*

Update: (8/17/19): Law enforcement officials have named the father of the 3-year-old as the one arrested Friday.

Christopher Cantrell of Plainview was charged with criminally negligent homicide in the death of Tabitha Cantrell.

Update (9:21 p.m.): One person has been arrested for criminally negligent homicide in connection to the death of a 3-year-old child who died in a vehicle fire Friday afternoon.

The name of the arrested individual is expected to be released on Saturday.

(Original)

A 3-year-old child is dead after a car fire outside the Galaxy Vape Shop, which is adjacent to the Days Inn.

Fire Chief Tim Gibson said he was the first person to arrive on scene after the call came in at 2:44 p.m. Friday.

By the time Gibson arrived about four minutes later, he said, the vehicle was fully engulfed. Attempts to rescue the child were unsuccessful.

Plainview Fire Department, the Plainview Police Department, Justice of the Peace and the State Fire Marshal's Office were notified and several units remained on-scene around 4 p.m.

The child's father was being held for further questioning Friday afternoon.

At this time, Gibson said, it's unclear what caused the fire and names are being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.

The child's body will be sent for an autopsy and the law enforcement will continue to investigate and possibly release additional information later.

08/20/19

The car fire that killed 3-year-old Tabitha Cantrell outside the Galaxy Vape Shop, 3602 Olton Road, on Friday afternoon has been ruled an accident.

Plainview Fire Marshal Philip Mize on Monday said the case is still under investigation but it appears the child was in the car alone for about two to 10 minutes.

The fire appears to have started in the passenger side of the vehicle and it doesn't appear to have been sparked by a mechanical issue, he said.

According to the affidavit of probable cause for the arrest of 33-year-old Christopher Cantrell, an officer arrived on-scene to see a large crowd of onlookers and a man yelling loudly. The man "appeared to be distraught and in a sense of despair."

Christopher Cantrell told the officer his daughter had fallen asleep as they pulled in to the parking lot to pick up a coil. While inside the business, another individual walked into the establishment and said someone's car was on fire.

Christopher Cantrell told the officer he couldn't reach his daughter because his vehicle was locked, according to the affidavit.

On Saturday, balloons, stuffed animals and flowers were placed in the parking spot outside the vape shop where the fire occurred.

The child's autopsy had been completed by noon on Monday but results had not been publicly released.

*THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER LEAVE A CHILD ALONE IN A VEHICLE. NOT EVEN FOR A MINUTE!!