Stop, Drop, Swim

When is it okay to set your "friend" on fire? According to 15-year-old Matthew Bent, apparently when he owes you $40 for a video game. On October 12, firefighter-paramedic Bobby Goss experienced "the worst call of his four-year career" says Rich Phillips, CNN reporter.

Goss was one of the first people on the gruesome scene. When Michael Brewer was attacked by five of his friends, his life would forever change. He is now burnt on over 65% of his teenage body. According to reports, Brewer was doused in alcohol and set on fire. When Brewer refused to pay the alleged $40 he owed Bent for a video game, "one of the teens -- 15-year-old Matthew Bent -- stole Brewer's father's bicycle."

But it didn't stop there. Brewer blamed Bent for the theft and police soon arrested him. Phillips reports that "The next day, Bent and four other teens found Brewer, authorities say, and surrounded him. Police say witnesses have told them that they called him a snitch before pouring alcohol on him and using a lighter to set him on fire."

Brewer then ran 100 yards to an apartment complex pool and jumped in, eliminating the flames. In my opinion, it is pretty safe to say that the pool saved Brewer's life. He was on a breathing venilator until Tuesday, and is now breathing successfully on his own after a month.

The five kids accused of this horrific crime are not getting away scott free. "Three of the five teens -- Denver Jarvis and Bent, both 15, and Jesus Mendez, 16 -- have been charged as adults with attempted second-degree murder..." They are currently being held without bail. Two other teens, one of whom is 13, are being charged as juveniles with aggravated battery. They may be charged as adultas as soon as prosecutors throughly investigate the case.

I find this extremely disturbing. It makes absolutely NO sense to me as to how ANYONE can think it's ever okay to set someone on fire for ANY reason. All five of these monsters should be tried as adults and be put away for the rest of their lives. They are only teenagers, who knows what they could possibly think of when they're adults. And over a video game? Really? What's going to happen when they get in a car accident or their girlfriend cheats on them or they're shorted change at a drive thru? It amazes me that anybody could ever think of setting somebody on fire as a way to solve their problem. I hope these five teenagers get everything they have coming to them.