3 Year Old Put Fireworks In His Mouth - Bottle Rocket Exploded

[matcom]

<snip>

It's a horrifying thing to imagine. Fireworks exploding in the mouth of a 3-year old little boy. In this case, a bottle rocket.

"I thought he was dead for a minute," says the victim's uncle DeAngelo McKee.

Family members identify the boy as Amendo McKee. It happened behind the family's apartment at 532 Smythe Curve. McKee suffered burns in his throat. He walked out of Children's Hospital today in Birmingham after two days worth of treatments. It's not known if McKee will suffer long term effects from the explosion.

Now investigators want to know how this happened. An accident? Maybe but maybe not.

"That someone may have given the fireworks, actually told him to place the fireworks in his mouth. That's something we're checking into," says Lt. Huey Thornton.

That version of the story seems to square up with what McKee tells WSFA 12 News; a 13-year old neighborhood boy told Amendo to put the bottle rocket in his mouth. It's not clear who lit the fuse.

"He told him to put it in his mouth and it went down his throat."

Reporter: "Why did he do that?"

McKee: "I don't know, but I don't think he was trying to hurt him."

Police wouldn't confirm or deny the name of the 13-year old given to us by McKee. We do know this happened in an area where adults weren't around. Investigators want to talk to Amendo's mom to find out why.

"If you are a parent and you're aware that fireworks are being exploded in the area, you need to be mindful where your kids are," says Lt. Thornton.

If this turns out to be something criminal, police say they intend to pursue assault charges. Lt. Thornton says those responsible may also face charges of exploding fireworks in the city limits. The Department of Human Resources has started its own investigation. The agency wouldn't say what its findings could lead to.

http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?s=3560277

[BlondieK143]

1. Where were his fucking parents???

Geez, what the fuck is the world coming to?

[Heidi]

2. What?!?!

If the below were true, why didn't the 13-year-old put the bottle rocket in his own mouth and light it, instead of getting his kicks with a toddler? :grr:

Reporter: "Why did he do that?"
McKee: "I don't know, but I don't think he was trying to hurt him."

[matcom]

3. guess its not fun if your blowing them up in your OWN mouth

:eyes:

[Heidi]

4. Yeah, guess not.

When my dad was a little boy, he sustained a permanent hearing loss due to another kid's "great idea." Being in an artillery unit in Vietnam didn't improve matters any.

I wonder if we ever get to a point when we're no longer surprised by our lack of humanity toward one another. *sigh*