Remember when teenagers used to have disagreements? A fight was possible, but almost never led to the end of friendships let alone lives. In a stunning case of cruelty, 5 teens burned a 15 year old boy in a dispute over a video game and a bicycle; the five doused Michael Brewer with rubbing alcohol and set him on fire.

According to police reports, Michael Brewer borrowed $40 dollars from another 15 year old, Matthew Bent; he never paid the money back according to Bent. Matthew Bent in return tried to steal Brewer’s father’s bicycle worth about $500 dollars. Brewer called the police as Bent tried to leave with the bike, he was arrested and spent a couple days in juvenile detention.

Fearing an encounter at school, Brewer didn’t go to school on Monday, the day that Bent was released from juvenile detention. Bent rounded up 4 other teenagers, Denver and Jeremy Jarvis, Steven Shelton, and Jesus Mendez; three 15 year olds and a 13 year old.

The five ran into Michael Brewer at a local apartment complex where they surrounded him as he tried to leave. The group called him a snitch and poured the alcohol all over him soaking him thoroughly, reportedly Mendez threw the lighter on him.

Michael Brewer was burned over 80% of his body, he is currently in critical condition with 2nd degree burns. The teenagers responsible were arrested on Monday night, Matthew Bent and Denver Jarvis reportedly laughed while being questioned about the incident. Mendez, the teen who actually threw the lighter on Brewer is facing attempted second-degree murder; all four are facing aggravated battery charges.

This is just a shocking case of cruelty which makes you wonder how in a society like ours, kids that young could do something that awful to another person. Michael Brewer’s life will never be the same, that is of course assuming that he survives the ordeal. The teenagers who perpetrated the crime should be put away for quite a while. I think they also need psych evaluations too.

You can’t do something as cruel and barbaric as setting someone on fire in what started as a disagreement about a $40 video game, without something being wrong upstairs if you know what I mean. These teenagers shouldn’t have the opportunity to function in society for a long time.