The Kerrville Police Department on Wednesday said a juvenile was arrested and charged with first-degree arson after an investigation determined that the juvenile was identified as the person responsible for causing a 10-year-old’s severe burns.
On Sunday about 3:45 p.m., the Kerrville Fire Department and the Police Department responded to a structure fire in the 300 block of Blanks Street. When they arrived, they found 10-year-old Kayden Culp severely burned.
Culp was airlifted to University Hospital, where he remains in an induced coma with burns covering 20 percent of his body, from his ears to his belly and under his arms, said his mother, Tristyn Hatchett.
Fire Marshal Chris Lee said the shed was already on fire when a juvenile male poured gasoline onto the fire, causing a flash fire that burned Culp.
The fire "inadvertently struck the child," Lee said.
The police chief said four boys were in the shed when the fire erupted.
"No one was coerced to be there," he said.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and the Fire Marshal’s Office is asking anyone with information about the incident to call 830-257-8449.
