August 4, 2004

Fire leads to charges for pair of teens

       Two White River Township teenagers face criminal charges for reportedly dousing their friend with gasoline and setting him on fire.  Austin C. Hart and Tyler W. Lockwood, both 15, are being charged as juveniles with criminal recklessness, a Class D felony.  The two are accused of igniting 15-year-old Thomas Jefferson a day after Independence Day, burning their friend over 43 percent of his body.  Hart poured gasoline on Jefferson, and Lockwood lit the shirt with a lighter, according to a probable-cause affidavit.  Jefferson remains in critical but stable condition in the burn unit at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, according to hospital spokesman James Wide. 

         A family member told hospital staff Tuesday that the family was not ready to speak publicly about the incident, Wide said.  Attempts to reach family members Tuesday were unsuccessful.  Jefferson was at the home of one of the boys the evening of July 5 to set off fireworks, according to White River Township Fire Marshal Eric Brown, who investigated the incident.  Brown said that after the boys were finished with the fireworks, the three came up with the idea to set Jefferson’s shirt on fire.  “The gasoline ignited with a rapid flash, and (Jefferson) fell to the ground on fire,” the affidavit states.  "Austin attempted to extinguish him with a blanket with no success; he then used water from a garden hose.  (Jefferson) was screaming for an ambulance, and Austin told him he would be OK and they didn’t want to get in trouble.” 

          Hart’s mother and sister were at the family’s home in the 4300 block of Mahogany Drive in Greenwood when the incident occurred.  The sister heard screaming from outside the home, saw Jefferson ablaze and called 911, Brown said.  The boys later told sheriff’s deputies that the three had been playing around with gasoline and that Jefferson’s shirt accidentally caught fire from an ignited firework.  They later admitted they started the fire, Brown said.  All three teenagers will be sophomores at Center Grove High School next month.  Hart and Lockwood were arrested on preliminary charges of arson, aggravated battery and criminal recklessness and placed on home detention.  Charges were filed in juvenile court Tuesday afternoon by Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Pinnick at the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office.  Court dates have not been set.  (This article reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)
       

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