Latino State News
Angry Drunken Father Lights Christmas Tree on Fire, Injures Son
Sunday night, Chicago firefighters responded to a fire on the city’s Southwest Side that injured a young child.
The 1-year-old was slightly hurt when his mother’s ex-boyfriend came home intoxicated, and upon arguing with her allegedly set the family’s Christmas tree on fire. The man is said to be the boy’s father.
Family members say the man purposely lit the tree on fire when the boy’s mother, his ex-girlfriend, said she was going to call the police if he didn’t calm down and/or leave.
“He started saying that he was going to kill and him and the kids and that was going to set the baby on fire because we called the police on him,” said the toddler’s grandmother, Joann Bettendorf.
A firefighter rescued the young boy from a second floor window of the home at the 4800 block of South Kolin Avenue, and the fire was extinguished within 10 minutes of the fire department’s arrival.
The boy was taken to St. Anthony Hospital for smoke inhalation and minor burns.
Reporters caught footage of the father as he ran from neighbors in his boxers while barefoot. He got away, but police are still looking for him.
