Child Burned After On-Fire Ball Was Thrown At Him, Mom Claims

BRIDGEPORT, CT — The mother of a Bridgeport child who suffered second- and third- degree burns over the weekend is claiming her son was set on fire by an older child.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Maria Rua said her son, 6-year-old Dominick, "had a ball covered in gasoline then lit on fire thrown at him by an 8 year old boy."

Rua claimed the boy is her downstairs neighbor, and said he has bullied Dominick in the past.

"It's not like he accidentally was playing with gas...he threw a ball at his face and set my son on fire," Rua told News 12 Connecticut.

The neighbor's family denied the accusations to News 12 and said they have been getting threats on Facebook.

At around 4 p.m. Sunday, officers were dispatched to Louisiana Avenue on a report of a child burned, WTNH reported. Police said initial reports indicated that "up to four unattended children were seen playing with gasoline and lighting objects on fire," according to the TV station.

Read more: Bridgeport Child Burned; 'Exact Cause' Under Investigation: Reports

But Dominick's sister, Kayla Deegan, told NBC Connecticut that the family's neighbor attacked her brother.

"As soon as he walked down the stairs, the bully called his name and lured him over around the corner," Deegan said. "And in a matter of seconds he came back around the corner screaming, saying 'Mommy, they lit me on fire.'"

Dominick is currently in Bridgeport Hospital's burn unit and is expected to recover, hospital officials told NBC Connecticut.

A GoFundMe for his family has raised over $50,000 in just one day. In the fundraiser's description, Deegan wrote that her family is looking for help with hospital bills and help finding a new home.

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"It is not safe here. This kid downstairs has gotten away with too much and has a history of bullying," Deegan wrote. "Even though Dominick can't talk because he's in a lot of pain and all swollen, he said to my mom, 'Please don't take me back there.'"

Bridgeport police said the incident is still under investigation, according to WTNH.

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