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Re: Kid set on fire for $40
Police: Juveniles laughed after setting 15-year-old on fire
* Story Highlights
* 15-year-old suffered second-degree burns over 80 percent of his body
* Three juveniles arrested Monday night, 2 others arrested Tuesday
* Police say one suspect apparently took bike to settle money dispute
* They say alleged victim set on fire after he reported theft and suspect was arrested
(CNN) -- Five juveniles were in custody Tuesday after a 15-year-old was intentionally set on fire at a Deerfield Beach, Florida, apartment complex, police said.
Michael Brewer suffered second-degree burns over 80 percent of his body. "He's in for a long, long recovery," Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti told reporters.
Three juveniles were arrested Monday night, hours after the incident, and two others were arrested Tuesday, sheriff's Sgt. Steve Feeley said.
"A couple of them last night were laughing about it," he said. "One of them arrested today seems genuinely sorry about it."
The youths all attend school together, police said, and Brewer apparently owed one of the suspects $40 for a video game and had not paid it. So the suspect allegedly stole the victim's father's bicycle, Feeley said. Brewer reported the bicycle stolen Sunday, and the suspect was arrested that day, taken to a detention center and released to his parents early Monday, police said. VideoWatch Lamberti describe the alleged motive »
Neither Brewer nor the suspect went to school Monday, and the victim was waiting at the apartment complex for his friends when the suspect and two other people approached him, Feeley said.
From what the suspects and witnesses have told police, the suspect yelled, "He's a snitch, he's a snitch" and "pour it on him." Another juvenile threw what police believe was rubbing alcohol on Brewer from a plastic jug and used a lighter to set him on fire, he said.
Witness Provindencia Maldenero told CNN affiliate WPLG, "I saw a kid throwing something at the other kid, and next thing you know, the kid was on fire. He was up in fire."
A resident used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames, and Brewer jumped into the complex's swimming pool, WPLG reported.
Malissa Durkee, the teen's sister, told WPLG on Monday night that her brother was in critical condition. Lamberti said Brewer is expected to be hospitalized for five months.
"In my 31 years -- I always say, 'it's the most heinous crime I've ever seen,' " Lamberti told reporters Tuesday. "This one fits in that category. The fact that a person would intentionally ignite another child on fire -- it's indescribable."
Brewer "reported somebody for stealing his dad's bike," the sheriff said. "That's what this comes down to. It's retaliation. They deliberately sought him out, poured alcohol on him and set him on fire. I can tell you there's no way to explain it, no way to rationalize it."
Police believe the three arrested Monday night took an "active role" in the incident, while the other two helped surround Brewer and prevented him from leaving, Feeley said.
He said authorities are hoping to interview Brewer on Wednesday or Thursday.
Watch Lamberti describe the alleged motive »
#cnnSTCVideo
Crime
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Crime
Juvenile Justice
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Juvenile_Justice
Find this article at:
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/13 … cnnSTCText
- Communist China
- Rep: 130
Re: Kid set on fire for $40
I'm so sick of this Lord of the Flies shit. I really don't know what to do about it, and before someone suggests it, having the parents beat the hell out of their kids is not a solution.
Re: Kid set on fire for $40
I'm so sick of this Lord of the Flies shit. I really don't know what to do about it, and before someone suggests it, having the parents beat the hell out of their kids is not a solution.
It all starts with the parents.
No i'm not talking about "spoil the rod", i'm talking more about communication and smart parenting.
Try the parents for attempted murder. Make some examples. Things will change.
Re: Kid set on fire for $40
May not be a total solution, but it would help.
Stop.
These individuals need some serious help. I hope the boy recovers.
Re: Kid set on fire for $40
Communist China wrote:having the parents beat the hell out of their kids is not a solution.
May not be a total solution, but it would help.
It'd definitely be a start. I'm sorry but these kids need to be made an example of. Too often you see kids commit horrendous crimes like this and they get nothing cause they are minors. I mean come on! Setting someone on fire for 40 friggin dollars! And yes the parents are partly to blame in this. Truth hurts but that's the way it is. The parents should get something as well. But definitely would give those kids quite a lot of few years in jail. At 15 you're supposed to know better than this.
Re: Kid set on fire for $40
It would only make things worse. Don't be an idiot.
Psychiatric care is the only option since these persons are NOT well.
I'll get back to my socialistic life now.
Re: Kid set on fire for $40
It would only make things worse. Don't be an idiot.
Psychiatric care is the only option since these persons are NOT well.
I'll get back to my socialistic life now.
Psychiatric help seems to be the answer to everything now and it isn't. And I'm a social worker. Trust me. These kids need to do hard times cause they'll only do worst.
Re: Kid set on fire for $40
See at 15 you know the difference between right and wrong. If you do not know it by then you never will and if you do not know it then you should be locked up forever especially when you do shit like this. Whenever soebody does something wrong they always plea for fucking insanity or you have people like you saying they need psychiatric help. In this case no he doesn't. Someone owed this kid 40$ and he tohought this is how I'll get my revenge, I'll set him on fire. And the way it was done those kids can't say it wasn't premeditated. Do you walk around with a bottle of rubbing alcohol? I don't. They knew what they were doing. Would you say that Manson or Dahmer didn't deserve jail that they only needed psychiatric help? Granted those kids may not be serial killers but they are sick. Would I give em psychiatric help? Yes. Would it be the only thing I'd do? Hell no! Like I said they need to be made an example of. I'd lock em up for a real long time. So no psychiatric help is not the only option. Stop being a wuss. You do the crime you do the time. If they were 5 I'd agree. 15. Gimme a fucking break!
