7-year-old boy charged with burning down his own house with his parents inside

He is suspected of having wanted to kill his family. On Wednesday May 4, 2023, a 7-year-old American boy was arrested after intentionally setting fire to his home with his parents inside. “Tonight a 7-year-old was taken into custody and charged with arson after he allegedly set his home on fire. His parents were in the house at the time.West Virginia police said.

According to the authorities, both adults “suffer from minor burns” but were able to get out of the house in time. “Special thanks to the firehouses that responded as well as the Office of the West Virginia Fire Captain“added the police, specifying that”no further information“would not be communicated on the current case because of its nature”sensitiveThe investigation was turned over to the Office of the West Virginia Fire Captain.

The arrest of children very common in the United States

If the indictment of this 7-year-old boy may seem insane, it is far from being an isolated case in the United States. According to an investigation by CBS News, more than 11,000 U.S. elementary and middle school children were arrested between 2017 and 2018. However, the risks faced by minors are different from one State to another. In West Virginia, for example, a child can be charged if a criminal complaint is filed against them. This is not the case in New York, where a text signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in January 2022 prohibits the arrest of children under 12 for most crimes (excluding homicide).