12-Year-Old Charged with Arson and Assault After Allegedly Throwing Gas on Brother and Lighting Him on Fire

A 12-year-old boy allegedly poured gasoline on his brother and lit him on fire.

The incident happened on Saturday, June 14, after a group of kids allegedly were playing with gasoline and lighting things on fire in Tremont City, Ohio, WHIO-TV, WDTN-TV and The Springfield News-Sun reported.

At around 8:20 p.m. local time, one of the boys doused another in gas before setting him on fire, according to WDTN-TV, which cited Clark County Police Sgt. Scott Elliott. Investigators told WHIO-TV that the two boys were brothers. 

“[They] acquired gasoline and were throwing gasoline on each other and setting it on fire for whatever reason,” Clark County Police Lt. Kristopher Shultz told WHIO-TV.

The boy who was lit on fire was transported to the hospital with second- and third-degree burns, per The Springfield News-Sun. The boy’s injuries were reportedly severe, but did not appear to be life-threatening, according to the outlet.

“I need a medic … He got burned on his back really bad … him and his brother were playing with gasoline and fire,” a 911 caller told dispatchers, per the newspaper outlet.

Police told WHIO-TV and The Springfield News-Sun that their investigation found that the incident had been intentional, and that officers detained a 12-year-old involved in the incident.

“Based on the circumstances of the purposeful throwing of the gasoline and the purposeful lighting of the gasoline, we did make one arrest… and he was housed at the Juvenile Detention Center,” Shultz said.

The 12-year-old who lit the fire has been charged with aggravated arson and felonious assault, WHIO-TV and The Springfield News-Sun reported.

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The Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on the incident on Saturday, June 21.

Elliott warned that parents should be vigilant when it comes to their children and that they should try to ensure their children don’t play with dangerous items like gasoline.

“It’s always concerning when juveniles are playing with fire and gasoline,” he told WDTN-TV. “No one should play with fire. Adults should be the only ones handling gasoline.”

The CCSO is investigating the incident.