Mom Is ‘Mad’ and ‘in Shock’ After Son, 12, Is Allegedly Burned Severely by Friends' Sleepover Prank

A 12-year-old boy in Georgia suffered second-degree burns on his face after an alleged prank gone wrong during a sleepover.

The boy’s mother, Tiffany West, told local news outlet WALB 10 that the incident occurred at a neighbor’s apartment the morning after a sleepover, when the other three boys in attendance allegedly poured scalding water on her son’s face while he was still asleep. 

“He was transported to the burn center in Augusta. He had to have surgery,” West told the outlet.

She added that her son — whose name she is keeping anonymous — is home recovering, though it will “take him 12 to 14 days to heal.”

The three friends at the sleepover, all between the ages of 12 and 15, are currently facing charges, the Tifton Police Department said in a statement to WALB 10. It is currently unclear what the charges are.

The victim’s family told the outlet that the children have since been released to their families and are awaiting their hearings, which will take place in about a month.

The Tifton Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Saturday, Jan. 4.

Reacting more to the horrific incident, and how she felt afterward, West said, “I mean, I really can’t describe it now. At 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 mother continued.

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The victim’s aunt, identified only as Nachelle, said in a statement to WALB 10, “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.”

“My brother and Tiffany have been out of work since this happened with all the traveling,” Nachelle continued, adding, “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.”