Teenager set ablaze in reported racial attack

Kansas City, MO â€" On Tuesday, a 13-year-old boy was doused with gasoline in front of his home and set ablaze. The victim was able to extinguish the flames himself before calling 911.

The boy was taken to Children's Mercy Hospital and treated in the hospital’s burn unit with first-degree burns to his face and head.

Lighting the gasoline “produced a large fireball burning the face and hair” according to the police report.

The victim’s mother, Melissa Coon told KMBC : “You could smell the burned skin. You could smell the burned hair. It was just horrible.”

Her son is back home now, but in addition to losing his eyelashes and eyebrows, doctors are concerned over the long term damage the fire may have done to his eyes and lungs.

As for the suspects, police have described them as black males, age 16.

Coon gave the following account of the incident: “They rushed him on the porch as he tried to get the door. [One of them] poured the gasoline, then flicked the Bic, and said, ‘This is what you deserve. You get what you deserve, white boy.’”

They apparently followed the victim home from East High School which is only two blocks form his home.

The attack is reportedly being investigated as a hate crime.

The family fearing further attacks, now plans to move and Coon says that her son will not be returning to East High School.

Sadly, she described the reaction from her younger son, saying: “My 5-year-old came in and asked me, ‘Mom, am I going to get set on fire today?’ I was in tears.”

According to police, both of the suspects have facial hair. One was wearing a blue hat, blue jacket, and shoes with the number 23 emblazoned on the side. The other was wearing a blue hat, a black jacket, and glasses.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

 

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