12-Year-Old Lit on Fire by Friend for Social Media Challenge

Reporter

10/4/2019|Updated: 10/7/2019

A 12-year-old suffered second-degree burns in Dearborn Heights, Michigan when his friend lit him on fire for a social media challenge on Sep. 28.

Jason Cleary suffered burns on his chin, chest, and stomach when his friend sprayed him with nail polish remover then set it alight as part of a social media challenge that makes children set each other on fire. Jason’s screaming alerted his family.

Venus Upadhayaya

Reporter

Venus Upadhayaya reports on India, China, and the Global South. Her traditional area of expertise is in Indian and South Asian geopolitics. Community media, sustainable development, and leadership remain her other areas of interest.

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