Authorities in Georgia have brought charges against three male juveniles after they poured scalding water on their 12-year-old friend while he was sleeping.
Per WALB, the 12-year-old Tifton boy suffered severe burns in the aftermath of the incident. But his three friends, aged 12 to 15, claim they had intended to prank the victim. The victim was hospitalized with second-degree burns on a large portion of his face, and the three juveniles have since been charged in connection with the incident.
“I mean, I really can’t describe it now. In that moment I was just mad, hurt, in shock. Everything, I was seeing red. I was just trying to hurry up and get him some help,” the victim’s mother, Tiffany West, said.
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Tiffany said the incident happened at a neighbor’s home. She added that her son and other children had gone there after a sleepover and were playing video games. She said one of the kids poured scalding water on her son while he was sleeping.
“He was transported to the burn center in Augusta. He had to have surgery. Of course, he is out of surgery and is recovering at home, now. But it is going to take him 12-14 days to heal,” Tiffany revealed.
Cleveland Clinic states that “on average, it can take one week to three weeks for your skin to heal after a second-degree burn.” The medical center also states that the “timeframe can vary based on the size and location of your burn.”
“You got to be in shock to know your friends are capable of doing this to you. Like somebody you trusted, it’s just horrible. He never thought something like this would happen to him,” the victim’s aunt, Nachelle, said.
Tiffany and other relatives want those responsible for her son’s injuries to be held accountable, per WALB. “My brother and Tiffany have been out of work since this happened with all the traveling. She is still gonna be out of work to take care of him while he is recovering. She needs to be here for him. Mentally, he is gonna have to get counseling to be able to trust people again,” said Nachelle.
The victim’s family said the three boys are scheduled to appear for a hearing at a later date after authorities released them to their families.
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