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A 6-year-old boy in Connecticut was hospitalized for severe burns after a bullying incident over the weekend.
Dominick Krankall suffered second- and third-degree burns to his face and legs on Sunday (April 24), his mother confirmed to NBC New York.
Dominick was playing in the backyard of the family's Bridgeport home when he was approached by an 8-year-old neighbor.
The boy's sister, Kayla Deegan, said the boy got into a shed and accessed gasoline and lighters before calling Dominick over.
"The bully called his name and lured him over around the corner, and in a matter of seconds he came back around the corner screaming, saying 'Mommy, they lit me on fire,'" Deegan said via NBC New York. "What he did was pour gasoline on a tennis ball, took a lighter, lit it up and just chucked it right at my brother's face — and then ran away from him and watched him burn."
Dominick was rushed to the burn unit at Bridgeport Hospital and his body was left swollen and bandaged up, but he's expected to make a full recovery. Police said four unattended children were seen playing with gasoline and setting fire to objects when Dominick was being rushed to the hospital.
The family said Dominick has had past experiences with the 8-year-old accused of burning him.
"Two months ago under the bully’s mother's supervision, he was pushed into a wall and fell to the floor. And again, the mother refuses to admit her kid did it," Deegan said.
The family of the boy accused in the burning incident declined to comment on the situation when NBC New York contacted them at their home.
Police, fire and the state fire investigation teams are all investigating the cause of Dominick's injuries and no charges have been filed as of Tuesday (April 26) night.