Teen Lit On Fire, Suspects Still At-Large

The search is still on Wednesday for the suspects responsible for lighting a teen on fire over the weekend.

It happened at Bagdouma Park in Coachella.

Three suspects are wanted by police. However, the victim is expected to survive the incident after suffering second degree burns to his torso, authorities said.

During the day, the park is filled with children signing up for athletic events.

Young girls playing softball, while the guys practice boxing inside the park’s boxing club.

“It’s not the first time something has happened here,” said Carlos Contreras. “But this is a whole new degree.”

Contreras coaches a local baseball team that plays night games at the park twice a week.

“I know sometimes parents are late picking them up,” he said. “It’s my responsibility to be out here. But, it’s scary. You never know if something will happen.”

Investigators responded to an assault at Bagdouma Park Saturday at around 10:30 p.m., where they found a 17-year-old Hispanic male with severe burns on his body.

The teen was immediately taken by ambulance to a nearby burn center for treatment.

“Because of his condition and treatment, we were able to get our investigators to talk to him finally on Monday,” said Lt. Frank Taylor, assistant Chief of the Coachella Police Department.

Three Hispanic male suspects are still at-large.

“The cameras we’ve looked at, at this point, don’t have any pictures regarding the assault,” said Taylor.

The victim was reportedly visiting family in Coachella, and while at the park, the suspects allegedly approached him, beat him up and doused him with a liquid accelerant and lit him on fire.

“This was an atrocious act that these guys did,” said Taylor.

The incident was gang related, said authorities.

“I don’t understand these guys, cause they fight for nothing,” said Ruben Ramirez, a coach at the Coachella Valley Boxing Club, who mentors teens everyday on the danger of gang violence.

“I grew up, you know, playing baseball here,” said Contreras. “For that to happen here… this is a sanctuary for the kids.”

The investigation is still ongoing.

Please contact police with any information that could lead to an arrest.