Teenager Arrested After Allegedly Setting Friend on Fire in Central Florida
A 17-year-old has been taken into custody after a disturbing video was discovered by law enforcement, revealing the alleged assault on another teenager. The footage, obtained by deputies from University of Florida Health Shands Hospital, shows a suspect pouring gasoline on the victim's legs before setting them ablaze.
According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, the victim was rushed to hospital after being attacked at a friend's house where he had been drinking with two other teens and witnesses. The victim claims that another teenager set him on fire using gasoline, which is corroborated by the video footage.
The witness who recorded the incident stated that what they saw in the footage was an accurate depiction of events. However, the suspect and their mother have refused to comment to law enforcement citing an attorney's instruction.
The victim, who is now being held with no bond, suffered second- and third-degree burns during the attack. His mother revealed that he had been drinking with friends at a friend's house when the incident occurred, but she claimed it was an accident involving a water bottle containing gasoline inside.
Deputies say the suspect can be seen in the video deliberately pouring gasoline on the victim before setting him ablaze. The victim claims that he doesn't remember much of the incident and is unsure why the defendant attacked him, saying they were "cool" and didn't have any reason to fight.
The attack has left many with questions about the motivations behind it, with some calling for increased awareness about the dangers of underage drinking and substance abuse.
A 17-year-old has been taken into custody after a disturbing video was discovered by law enforcement, revealing the alleged assault on another teenager. The footage, obtained by deputies from University of Florida Health Shands Hospital, shows a suspect pouring gasoline on the victim's legs before setting them ablaze.
According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, the victim was rushed to hospital after being attacked at a friend's house where he had been drinking with two other teens and witnesses. The victim claims that another teenager set him on fire using gasoline, which is corroborated by the video footage.
The witness who recorded the incident stated that what they saw in the footage was an accurate depiction of events. However, the suspect and their mother have refused to comment to law enforcement citing an attorney's instruction.
The victim, who is now being held with no bond, suffered second- and third-degree burns during the attack. His mother revealed that he had been drinking with friends at a friend's house when the incident occurred, but she claimed it was an accident involving a water bottle containing gasoline inside.
Deputies say the suspect can be seen in the video deliberately pouring gasoline on the victim before setting him ablaze. The victim claims that he doesn't remember much of the incident and is unsure why the defendant attacked him, saying they were "cool" and didn't have any reason to fight.
The attack has left many with questions about the motivations behind it, with some calling for increased awareness about the dangers of underage drinking and substance abuse.
I cant even believe what's happenin' nowadays... You got these young teens actin like adults, think they can just play with fire like that! 
Back in my day, we had respect for each other, you know? Now it seems like nobody cares about the next person. And what's up with this gasoline thingy? It's like, common sense, right? Don't go around pourin' gas on someone else! 
I mean, I get that they were just hangin out and stuff, but you can't just start flamin' people! That's some crazy stuff right there. And what about the witnesses who saw it all go down? They should be helpin' with the investigation or somethin'! 
It's like nobody's takin' this seriously... 
. I mean, setting someone on fire? That's not just assault, that's attempted murder. And they're saying it was an accident involving a water bottle with gasoline in it? Like, who does that?! And the fact that the suspect and their mom won't even talk to the police about it is just infuriating...I mean, isn't there supposed to be some sort of accountability for this kind of thing?
. The fact that two teens got into an argument over something as stupid as a water bottle with gasoline inside, which was meant to be used for a BBQ, is just unbelievable 
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what's even more worrying is that the kid who did this was only 17 
and we're still talking about how to prevent these types of incidents in the future 