Malik Thomas, a 9-year old was doused with gasoline and set on fire by a group of White childen. Two weeks after incident no one has been charged. Motorists and bystanders had smothered the flames before fire officials arrived. An Mexican child claimed that he was also a target, but was able to get away.
The Arizona Pinal County Sheriff dept has released very little info on the crime to the family or media. Spokesman say because of investigation. Sheriff told family that clothing Malik was wearing had been lost but Fire dept said they have it in a locker.
Vive Mayor Mike Johnson requested Bureau of ATF and FBI to assist in investigation.
" We want justice for Malik" said mother, Pamela Bishop. "
Accusations fly in burning death of 9-year-old black boy in May
By Amanda Lee Myers
the Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona
advertisementTwo children fought to save the life of their 9-year-old friend who was burned to death after the boys began horsing around with gasoline and matches in Arizona City, authorities said Wednesday.
Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez responded to allegations that the May 14 death of the black boy, Malik Thomas, was racially motivated in a case that has sheriff's officials and family representatives hurling accusations and contradicting basic facts of the investigation.
Meanwhile, the head of an Arizona chapter of a civil rights organization said the investigation has been a textbook example of ineptitude.
Sheriff's spokesman Mike Minter said Malik and his 9- and 11-year-old white friends found a milk jug filled with liquid at a construction site in the small town of Arizona City, about halfway between Tucson and Phoenix. They began kicking the jug around a room, then tossed matches at it.
"The fumes had built up in the room and an explosion occurred," Minter said. "The black boy was standing in front of the other boys and the explosion engulfed him."
The third-grader died later at a hospital.
Family representatives have asserted that the two boys doused Malik in gasoline and intentionally set him on fire. They also say that Malik told family members and officials before he died that the boys threw gasoline all over him and then threw a match at him.
Vasquez said the only thing Malik was able to say before being intubated and then going into surgery was that he was hurt and wasn't the one who threw the match.
Doctors said there were no signs Malik's clothes were saturated with a flammable liquid.
He said he couldn't be more sure the death was a tragic accident — not a hate crime.
"His friends did everything they could to get Malik to stop, drop and roll and tried to bat out the flames," Vasquez said. "They tried to save his life, and in my opinion, that's not indicative of someone committing a racially motivated crime.
"When someone commits a racially motivated crime, they're not going to try to save the person's life," Vasquez added. "They're going to flee and these boys stayed. They never left his side."
He added that Malik and one of the boys were inseparable and that the two were seen together so often that they were dubbed "Batman and Robin."
A family representative said Vasquez's characterization of the relationship between Malik and the other boy as close friends is "absolutely untrue."
"They knew each other, they went to school, they did play from time to time," said Art Mobley, a friend and spokesman for the family. "Malik called everybody his friend."
The Rev. Jarrett Maupin, head of the Arizona chapter of the National Action Network, a civil rights organization founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton, said he is disappointed with the investigation.
"The sheriff doesn't want the attention turned on his ridiculous, unorganized and unorthodox investigation," Maupin said.
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
Their explanation is dumb, though. They found a milk bottle filled with gas (possible), they started playing with it and spilling it all over the place (also possible), then started throwing matches at it (now, come on, seriously?)...
"I'm for it so we can put Nuclear power plants up there, and then beam the power back to earth on a laser beam." ~ Whidden
If he was burnt to the point that he died, how were they able to tell that his clothes weren't saturated with the gasoline? That poor kid. Unfortunately, at this point, unless the other boys confess to having doused him with the gas, it doesn't look like a hate crime... esp if the victim, and one of the "suspects" were such close friends that they were inseperable. Also, they would have fleed the scene... that, I agree with. No matter what, this is such a horrible thing to happen to anyone, especially a child. That saddens me.
Years ago, here in San Diego, there was a group of children that went down in the canyon to play. This is in an area where the military used to do A LOT of practice war games (that's going back... waaaaaaaay back), and the canyons in this area are known to have mortar shells. Well, these kids found one, from digging. One picked it up and began playing with it. It finally went off, and killed two of the kids. BOTH of the third graders that died were my mom's students, at that time. She was devestated. Was the kid who was playing with it, responsible for their deaths? NO. It was an accident.
I just hope that the truth is found out... and that the family of this boy, who died from the burns, can find some shred of peace. No parent should have to bury their child.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
What lawless said. If the two boys who performed this act were truly acting out of stupidity, then they don't deserve to have their entire lives to be ruined by Mr. Sharpton. They're going to need enough councilling as it is.
Though like I said: they started throwing matches at the gasoline tank thing? Wtf?
"I'm for it so we can put Nuclear power plants up there, and then beam the power back to earth on a laser beam." ~ Whidden
Lawless said this in post #7 : If he was burnt to the point that he died, how were they able to tell that his clothes weren't saturated with the gasoline?
He died from severe burns to the upper body.
There were bystanders and a motorist that came by and put the flames out...so this would leave some clothes remnants still there for them to process.
BUT....I did find this:
The sheriff’s office told the family that the clothing Malik was wearing had been lost. Later, Rev. Tillman was told that the clothing was found in a locker at the Fire Department. Mr. Minter stated that doctors at the hospital said there is no sign that the clothing was saturated with a flammable liquid, but the sheriff’s office will conduct further testing.
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
gaboman said this in post #11 : What lawless said. If the two boys who performed this act were truly acting out of stupidity, then they don't deserve to have their entire lives to be ruined by Mr. Sharpton. They're going to need enough councilling as it is.
Though like I said: they started throwing matches at the gasoline tank thing? Wtf?
Agreed.
Lets face it though...how many stupid parents are out in the world that dont teach their kids any better? Why were these kids allowed to go off by themselves and play in a construction site to begin with?
Do I wonder if it were racially motivated. Yes, and that is based on the fact that they say that Malik was in front of the other boys when the explosion happened...but I dont remember seeing that the other boys werre even touched by the fire. How that could be...dont know.
Still leaves me wondering whether it was or not....but Id rather hear the truth than to hear accusations and arguing, which can hinder an investigation.
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
Has conservative news shows reported this crime? The girl from Aruba is reported daily.
Not every crime in every state can be covered by all the news. Our news coverages would have to be longer than 24 hours just to report murders alone...and being that the day isnt longer than 24 hours...how could this happen?
Last year, for example, in my state there was a white guy shot in the head by a black guy. He was killed instantly. Took us a year to finally catch the guy.
I'd venture to guess you didnt hear about that crime...and why would you? You dont live here...I wouldnt expect every murder that happens everyday to be reported nationwide.
So you feel that because a black boy died with white boys around that this should be more noted than any other murder?
I would find it important for this to be reported nationwide if this is found to be racially motivated...but since no one really knows....why are you assuming it is?
Do you know something about this particular crime that we dont know? Do you know for a fact it was racially motivated?
You dont know anymore than anyone else...assumptions are just what they are. They dont tell the truth...they just dance around it.
I will say this again, as I have said in the past...I respect your passion for the black cause. There just isnt a need to go overboard everytime though. Crying wolf all the time doesnt make people listen...it makes them eventually turn their head. One day you might assume correctly, but who will be there to listen?
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
06-25-2006 09:48 PM
