Friend throws chemicals onto 18-year-old’s eyes, causing possible blindness, cops say
A 17-year-old is accused of throwing chemicals onto his 18-year-old friend’s face, causing chemical burns that could leave him blind, Texas police said.
Three friends were walking around a Friendswood neighborhood May 20 when one of them stole a package from a front porch and opened it, the Friendswood Police Department said.
The 17-year-old then threw the powdered substance from the package at his 18-year-old friend, police said. The friend asked him to stop multiple times and tried to push the younger teen away in an attempt to stop him from throwing more chemicals, according to court documents.
Police said the 17-year-old retaliated, throwing the container of chemicals onto the friend’s face. The friend ran home screaming in pain, his mother told KTRK, and she attempted to flush his eyes out with water and saline.
He was taken to the hospital with severe chemical burns to his face and eyes, according to police.
As medical staff attempted to determine what caused the burns, the victim asked the younger teen to send him a photo of the substance, according to KHOU. The teen never sent a photo, KHOU reported, and said the substance was salt.
The injuries put the 18-year-old at risk of going blind, police said. His mother said the victim was autistic, according to the criminal complaint.
The 17-year-old was arrested May 22 and charged with injury to a disabled individual. His attorney did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment.
The teen’s bond was set at $30,000.
Friendswood is about a 25-mile drive southeast of Houston.
