Teens Set a 15 Year Old Boy on Fire

What is wrong with our teens? This is a very disturbing case, and it tells a sad story. Teens today are showing signs of disregard for human life. Five teens have been arrested for attacking 15-year-old Michael Brewer and dousing him with alcohol then setting him on fire.

Why would these teens torch a living human being? Michael Brewer is in critical condition, with 80% of his body burned because he reported 15-year-old Matthew Bent to the police for trying to steal his fathers bike. According to reports, Michael Brewer had borrowed $40 from Bent to buy a video game which he had not paid back, and in retaliation Bent attempted to steal the bike.

Michael Brewer called the police. Matthew Bent was arrested Sunday, and released from the Juvenile Center on Monday morning. However, Bent did not go to school that day. And Michael Brewer did not attend school that day out of fear. Later that afternoon, Bent and four friends entered the Lime Tree Apartment complex, saw Michael Brewer, the five teens surrounded him, poured alcohol on him and lit him on fire. In flames, Michael Brewer ran while tearing off his shirt, and jumped in the pool.

Read the details of this story, and pay attention to where these boys, allegedly, got the bottle of alcohol. It is extremely hard to believe that these boys, who had set out to confront Michael Brewer for "snitching," just happened to "find" the bottle of alcohol conveniently sitting on a wall by the apartment complex. No way, that sounds like an outright lie.

Now, all these teens were age fifteen and under, not one was the legal age to buy or smoke cigarettes. However, it is reported that "Mendez took a lighter from his pocket and flicked it." Although, there is no law or age requirement for carrying a lighter this makes one curious. Did the teen have the lighter because he smoked cigarettes or marijuana? Possibly. Or because those five teens had their tools, a lighter and alcohol, and had set out and followed through with a premeditated heinous crime. The latter seems to fit the crime that took place.

Another thing that is troubling, where were Bent's parent(s)? Someone had to pick him up from the Juvenile Center. This boy, Bent, was allowed to stay home from school, obviously unsupervised and with no consequences for being arrested. Parents have a responsibility to control and supervise their children.

Teens capable of this sort of thing need psychological evaluation, not to replace criminal prosecution and sentencing, but in addition to; they, all five teens involved, show signs of being a danger to society. When you have a teenager(s) that can not only set a live human afire, but watch them burn and laugh about it there is something seriously wrong mentally.

Some may argue that it is the media's fault, and choose to blame this sick crime on violent movies and video games. It has already been suggested that the human brain is not fully developed until age 24, and as a result teens and children subjected to so much violence become so desensitized that they are no longer able to feel human compassion. What role does the parent(s) play in monitoring what their children watch or what video games they play?

Again, where is the parental supervision? Parents should have the greatest influence on their children, and if they are actively parenting; teaching values, showing love, setting limitations, and raising their children so that they understand that there are consequences for one's actions, they will have the most impact on the children they bring into this world. Parents have a responsibility to raise and discipline their children; not just to put a roof over their head, cloths on their back and food on the table.

Michael Brewer will never be the same, but will the punishment fit the crime. The five teens involved in this bitter and sick act of revenge should not be allowed to live their lives freely. Look what happened as a result of Bent being released from the Juvenile Center to parent(s) that obviously have no control over him, or simply allow him to do as he pleases.

If five teens set a 15 year old boy on fire they should all be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Sadly, if they are not it will leave them feeling more puffed up, and eventually they will commit more crimes. The evil and heartlessness that each of these teens posses tells a gruesome tale. Teens need love, guidance and discipline or we will continue to hear about horrible stories like this.

Source:

Revenge led to burning of Deerfield 15-year-old, police say - By Joel Marino, Rafael A. Olmeda and Robert Nolin, SunSentinel.com, October 13, 2009