West Virginia authorities said they have arrested a 7-year-old who they say started a fire in the home while his or her parents were sleeping.
According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, the event happened on Wednesday at about 11 a.m. While the parents are inside, sleeping, the child is accused of purposefully setting the fire.
The child's parents sustained minor burn wounds but are anticipated to recover fully. A first-degree arson accusation is pending against the minor, who is now in detention. Investigators have not revealed the precise grounds for the allegations, Fox News reported.
Due to the case's sensitivity, the sheriff's office would not provide any specifics regarding the child's imprisonment.
The magnitude of the tragedy is seen in a picture that authorities posted showing the house entirely in flames, per Daily Mail.
Prayers For The Family
The laws governing juvenile arrests vary from state to state, including West Virginia, where a citation or criminal complaint may make accusations against minors. New York passed a law in 2022 banning the detention and prosecution of children under 12 for most offenses.
Although child arrests are not unusual in the United States, over 700 children who were detained at US elementary schools in the 2017-2018 school year have drawn attention to the problem, according to CBS News.
Online users have responded differently to the Jackson County WV Sheriff's Department's social media posts about this occurrence. Given Jackson County's tiny population, several criticized the agency for posting the information on social media, calling it immoral.
Meanwhile, others expressed their sympathy and called for prayers for the child and their family during this challenging time. User Margery Richards commented, "That poor child, I bet he's scared to death not understanding what's going on. Prayers for him and his family."
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