Riceville House Fire Victim Identified, Homicide Probe Continues

Buncombe County -- July 6, 2026: Buncombe County authorities have identified Jimmy Lamar Long Jr., 51, as the man found deceased following a house fire on E. Mountain Way in Riceville on June 30. His death has been officially ruled a homicide, prompting an active arson investigation by local law enforcement agencies.The investigation, initially focused on a fire fatality, has escalated significantly with the determination that Long's death was a homicide. This development has led to a collaborat