Two unnamed minors were charged after officials discovered that multiple slides in Massachusetts contained acid leading to the injury of four children, according to Anthony Gulluni, the Hampden District Attorney, reports Fox.
The minors were charged with
“four counts of assault and battery on a child with injury and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon as well as vandalism,”
reports the news outlet.
On Thursday, Gulluni announced in a statement,
“Our collective effort to charge those we believe are responsible should make clear that protecting this community’s children is among our highest priorities.”
He continued,
“Whether the threat and harm caused were intended as pranks or malicious acts, it will not be tolerated.”
Back in June, firefighters responded to a park following a report of an unidentified substance on the playground. During that timeframe, officials also went to a home close by following a report of children who suffered from burns. According to Fox, the children had just left the park.
The mother, Ashley Thielen, told Western Mass News,
“I let the kids go play. I didn’t notice that there was liquid to collect at the bottom of the slide. I just assumed it was rainwater… I didn’t really think much of it, and then, my baby, who is 1, just started crying. That was when I knew this liquid that they were around wasn’t water.”
The substance left the children with blisters and swelling; however, their mother pointed out that it could’ve been even worse.
Officials learned that an unknown individual stole muriatic acid after breaking into the park’s storage room, which was later distributed on three slides.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?