BATON ROUGE - A man was arrested for four counts of attempted first-degree murder after he allegedly set fire to a home with four juveniles inside, yelling, "everyone is going to die."

Arrest documents alleged Alfred Jarvis, 46, was arrested after the fire on Inverrary Drive on Tuesday. Investigators found the home had been broken into, and the children inside the home said they smelled gasoline after Jarvis allegedly poured it inside. The kids were able to make it out safely. 

Witnesses also told the Baton Rouge Fire Investigators that Jarvis had two restraining orders against him. Two nights before the fire, Jarvis is also accused of having come to the home and ripping the Ring doorbell off of the entrance. 

"That order came from West Baton Rouge from a previous conviction out of West Baton Rouge, but he was also out on a bond here out of Baton Rouge for a gun charge. He had conditions of bond on that gun charge. There was also [a protective order] in place out of Baton Rouge as well. Also, due to his being out on bond on the gun charge, he faces a contempt of court charge where he just did 10 days in jail and was just released from the parish prison. I think within 10 days, is alleged to have committed this offense," EBR District Attorney Hillar Moore said.

The victim with the restraining order also received a text from Jarvis asking, "B**** do I got your attention"?

Officials also said that while the warrant was being typed for Jarvis' arrest, the victim received another message from Jarvis in which he says the victim is "dead to him" and that he would kill them. 

Jarvis was arrested for several charges, including four counts of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated arson, home invasion and criminal trespass.

Court records show Jarvis has been arrested multiple times in the past for domestic abuse and other violent charges.

"His criminal history goes back to the 90s and several domestic violence offences, several involving the same victim," Moore said.

In 2019, Jarvis was arrested and sentenced to ten days in prison after he hit his wife with an open and closed fist and strangled her as well as used a crowbar to break all of the windows on her vehicle. In 2021, he was arrested twice in April, once for striking his pregnant wife and once after a man said Jarvis was hiding in a car waiting to kill him. Officers found Jarvis lying across the front seat of a car nearby with an assault rifle in his hands.

Mental health expert Tonja Myles spoke to WBRZ about the incident. She says the children inside the home at the time of the alleged arson would likely need support.

"They're supposed to live knowing that they're safe, particularly in their own home. To have that invaded would be something so horrific, again that plays on their psyche," Myles said.

Myles said those who need help should call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988. More information can be found here.