A group of kids are currently in detention for setting one of their peers on fire over a $40 videogame debt. Micheal Brewer was set alight at an apartment complex in Deerfield Beach, Florida, where he suffered second-degree burns to 80% of his body. He's now recovering in hospital.
Five juveniles were arrested, although only one of them seems to show any shred of remorse.
"A couple of them last night were laughing about it," said sheriff's Sgt. Steve Feeley. "One of them arrested today seems genuinely sorry about it."
Brewer apparently owed one of the boys $40 for a videogame, and when he didn't pay up, the group stole his bicycle. However, Brewer's father reported the bike stolen, and the thief was nabbed. It seems that the fire was a result of the bike incident, as boys were yelling "He's a snitch, he's a snitch" as well as "Pour it on him" before allegedly using a lighter and rubbing alcohol to torch the boy.
An apartment resident tried putting Brewer out with a fire extinguisher, but it was left to the boy to throw himself into a nearby swimming pool. His condition is currently critical.
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Contest:
12:20 PM on 10.14.2009
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They can blame video games all they want, but WTF were their parents doing when they raised them?
I hope they get hell in whatever they've being imprisoned in.
Take it away, mainstream media!
Or horse cock. Either way, death.
PS, what's an eighty-degree burn? I'm pretty sure its just 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree burns.
Really Jim? C'mon. There's no such thing. Perhasps he suffered 3rd degree burns over 80% of his body? Silly Europeans.
Anyway, those kids are assholes, but this is why I never lend my games out.
We need to go back to dungeon cells with no windows, where you get one plate of slop slid under the door, sleep in your own shit, and never see the light of day again.
Anyway, this is just a case of stupid violent kids. The fact that there's a videogame somewhere in there is completely incidental.
Does anyone know how old they are?
Seriously though, sad comment on todays youth.
Also, I hate kids. :P
I'm curious what game he owed them for though. There will probably be a MASSIVE controversy if it's GTA specifically.
Also, the actual article says 2nd-degree burns over 80% of his body.
I have a unique take on this since my family adopted 5 kids. We were all raised the same, but if you look at the lifestyles of the biological parents, the kids have striking similarities. I'd say nature plays a role *at least* equal to that of nurture.
Ultimately, no matter how bad the environment, the punishment has to go to the person who actually commits the crime. You can't mitigate blame because someone wasn't raised in an ideal environment. You have to enforce personal responsibility.
This poor kid is probably going to be disfigured for life. The criminals should face a very long prison term. I jut hope they don't get off easy due to their youth.
Shame that the media will play up the videogame connection more then the fact that these kids clearly had issues. Also, it sounds like the bike theft was a bigger deal to them than the debt, but that will just get brushed over because nobody will read an article about bike stealing being evil.
That is just completely sick.
DarkTravesty:
Actually, second degree, luckily.
Though the other posts in regards to what 80-degree burns could be conceivable..