Boy accused of setting brother, 4, on fire
Associated Press
June 24, 2002 11:55:00

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - A 7-year-old boy doused his 4-year-old brother with charcoal lighter fluid and set him on fire, leaving the youngster with severe burns over most of his body, police said.

Nyquest Tearney lay in critical condition Monday with second- and third-degree burns over 85 percent to 95 percent of his body.

The older boy, whose name was not released, was charged with assault.

"He knew what he was doing would cause a fire," police spokesman Sgt. Tom Connellan said. "He may not have known it would cause such catastrophic results."

The boy told police the fire Saturday night was an accident, Connellan said.