Police in Kerrville, Tex. say a 10-year-old boy who suffered severe burns when he was set on fire was not attacked intentionally.
On Oct. 6 Kerrville fire police chief, Danny Smith, told reporters that “it does not appear that this event was premeditated or that there was any intent to harm any of the juveniles present.”
Smith’s statement comes after the victim’s mother, Trysten, claimed her son Kayden Culp was intentionally set on fire by two other children.
Smith said that upon further investigations it’s believed that a boy had poured some type of accelerant on a pre-existing fire in a shed. When the boy tossed the canister away, it hit Kayden and set him on fire.
According to officials, the boy feels “terrible” about what happened to Kayden.
However, Trysten said her son remains on life support and still believes her son was intentionally targeted.
Kayden suffered first- and second-degree burns to 20 per cent of his body – from his ears to belly button – after being set on fire on Oct. 2.
WATCH: A 10-year-old boy from Texas remains on life support after receiving severe burns from a fire attack. The child’s mother says the incident was intentional and is seeking to press criminal charges against the children involved. Michael Locklear reports.
Trysten claimed the incident was planned, with one boy dousing her son with gasoline while the other set him on fire.
She also said her son shows signs of autism; however, he has not been diagnosed.
The children were all playing in a field near a shed at the time of the incident.
A family friend of the Culp family said she saw a shed burning but didn’t know what was going on.
White also said Kayden’s recovery will be a difficult one.
According to KXAN, Kayden “is suffering from infections and is currently on medications to stabilize his heart. His blood pressure is also reportedly unstable.”
Kayden has also been sedated.
“He needs justice. I mean, no kid deserves to go through anything he’s going through. At all, period,” said White to KXAN.
Now, Trysten is hoping to persuade the police to press criminal charges against the children who she suspects purposely harmed her child.
KXAN reported a YouCaring page has been set up to help raise funds for Kayden and his family.
At least one juvenile has been charged with first-degree arson.