A 7-year-old child was arrested Wednesday by police in Jackson County, West Virginia (United States). He is suspected of intentionally setting fire to the house where he lived with his family, reports RMC Crime. The fire broke out in the evening while the boy's parents were sleeping.
Alerted, firefighters quickly went to the scene to help the victims and control the flames. The police also intervened. The fire completely ravaged the family home. According to authorities, no one died in the fire. But two people suffer severe burns.
An open investigation
For the time being, the precise circumstances of the events are still unknown. An investigation has been launched to determine the causes of the fire. According to police, the boy deliberately set fire to the family home. That is why he was arrested and taken into custody. His 38-year-old stepfather was also arrested by authorities. He is suspected of child abuse.
As stated by the American media CBS, children can be prosecuted regardless of their age in West Virginia. But this is not the case in all states of the United States. Last year, New York State passed a law preventing children under the age of 12 from being arrested and prosecuted for virtually any type of crime.
- USA
- World
- Fire
- Child