Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 17-year-old boy accused of intentionally setting another teen on fire earlier this month in Marion County.
TV20 obtained the arrest affidavit for BM, 17, of Anthony, for whom a warrant was issued last week on the charge of aggravated battery.
According to the report, M, the victim, and two other teens took jet skis out to Kauffmans Island on Lake Kerr in the Ocala National Forest during the overnight hours of Jan. 10 into Jan. 11.
The teens were drinking alcohol by a fire when witnesses say M splashed the victim with gasoline and created a trail on the ground.
M reportedly said, “Do you want to be set on fire?”
The trail then ignited, catching the victim on fire. He ran to the lake to put out the flames.
The teens then all left the island on the jet skis. Once back on shore, the victim was taken to a nearby hospital before being transferred to UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville.
The boy suffered burns on his hand, backside, legs, and thighs. Some of the burns were described in the medical reports as second-degree and third-degree burns, causing blisters, bleeding, and discoloration.
The victim initially lied to his parents about how he caught on fire to cover for M. He later told his parents and detectives the truth after a video showing the incident was obtained.
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Source: wcjb
