Video shows a 17-year-old Florida teen splashing gasoline on a friend and setting him on fire, sending the victim to the hospital with severe burns, authorities said.
The incident occurred mid-January when a group of teens took jet skis to an island in Marion County to drink alcohol and set a bonfire, according to an arrest affidavit. The suspect can be seen on video with a “gas canister pouring gasoline on the juvenile victim.”
The suspect was “messing” with the fire and created a trail leading to the victim who became engulfed in flames, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The victim ran to a lake to extinguish the flames.
The teens took jet skis back to one of their houses, and from there decided to take the victim to a hospital. He was life-flighted to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, where he was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit and treated for second-degree burns and third-degree burns.
What does the video show of a Florida teen setting friend on fire?
The roughly one-minute video shows the suspect carrying a large container filled with gasoline near a bonfire.
As other teens laugh in the background, the suspect creates a trail from the fire to the victim sitting nearby facing the fire. The suspect can be seen throwing gasoline on the fire and then pouring more gasoline to create a trail of fire to the victim, who jumps up and attempts to run away.
A witness can be heard yelling, “Oh my God. Get in the lake. Get in the lake,” as the teen runs covered in flames. Laughing is followed by someone asking if the incident was captured on video.
Why did Florida teen set his friend on fire?
Authorities were called to Shands Hospital to investigate the incident.
The victim said he was”hanging out” and “drinking alcohol” around a fire with the suspect and two others, according to the report. He also stated he thought he was “cool” with the suspect and doesn’t remember much of what happened that night.
According to the affidavit, right before being set on fire, the suspect asked the victim, “Do you want to be set on fire?” The victim said he was running away when he was set on fire.
A sheriff’s deputy attempted to make contact with the 17-year-old suspect and his mother.
The mother said on the advice of an attorney, she and her son would not be speaking with authorities, according to the affidavit. Her son was taken into custody Jan. 29 and was being held without bond.
Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida teens video as friend sprays gas on teen, sets him on fire
Reporting by Michelle Spitzer, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
