A 12-year-old boy from Georgia has suffered second degree burns on his face after three of his friends poured boiling water on him. The group responsible, ages 12-15, insisted it was supposed to be a prank — but they may now be in some serious trouble.
The victim’s mother, Tiffany West, told local news outlet WALB 10 that her son was in a neighbor’s apartment after a sleepover alongside other kids playing video games. West said he was asleep when one boy threw the hot water on him.
“I mean, I really can’t describe it now. In that moment I was just mad, hurt, in shock,” she stated. “Everything, I was seeing red. I was just trying to hurry up and get him some help.”
West’s son was transported to the burn center in Augusta and was so severely hurt that he needed surgery. According to West, his recovery will take anywhere between 12-14 days.
The three friends at the sleepover responsible for his injuries are all currently facing charges, the Tifton Police Department confirmed in a statement to WALB 10. However, it remains unclear what the charges are.
The victim’s aunt, Nachelle, shared her shock with the station.
“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,” she commented.
Nachelle also explained the toll the ordeal has taken on her entire family.
“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,” she continued.
According to PEOPLE, the group accused of harming the victim were arrested but have since been released to their families. They are currently awaiting their hearings, which is set to take place sometime next month.