Parade outside Connecticut hospital aims to lift spirits of 6-year-old burn victim

Dominick Krankall suffered second- and third-degree burns whereas enjoying with two different youngsters final Sunday, and he stays hospitalized.

He was with the 8- and 11-year-old sons of his household’s landlord once they began enjoying with a gasoline can and a lighter.

Krankall was hit within the face with a tennis ball that was soaking in fuel and lit on fireplace. He additionally suffered burns to his legs.

Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim, first responders, and members of the neighborhood gathered and cheered exterior Krankall’s hospital window.

“It makes me wish to cry tears of pleasure,” one relative stated. “That is superb that everybody is pulling collectively for him like this. I by no means imagined this, and having a neighborhood like this can be a good factor.”

Krankall may very well be out of the hospital and again house within the coming days, although a confrontation continues between his dad and mom and the mom of the opposite two boys.

Krankall’s dad and mom, Aaron Krankall and Maria Rua, stated their son has been the sufferer of bullying and in addition suffered a concussion final month after being pushed by one of many different youngsters.

“My 6-year-old son checked out me, and he stated, ‘Daddy, he poured gasoline on a ball, and he threw it instantly into my face, and he caught my face on fireplace with a fireball,’” Aaron Krankall stated. “I can’t cease, although, till this child will get put away as a result of this isn’t OK. I would like justice for my son.”

However the mom of these two youngsters and the owner, Laura Giacobbe, denied the household’s claims.

“There was no bullying in any respect concerned, none,” she stated.

Giacobbe stated Rua had agreed to keep watch over the boys whereas she went out, and that the youngsters continuously performed collectively.

“She uncared for these youngsters exterior,” Giacobbe stated. “She uncared for them. In case your youngster is being bullied, would you permit your youngster out with someone being bullied? That is the query.”

However Rua stated her son wasn’t enjoying with fireplace and as a substitute was the sufferer of bullying.

“My son has been bullied by this youngster for a yr,” she stated. “That day, they purposefully threw a gasoline-saturated ball that they lit on fireplace at my son’s face. They known as his title so he would flip round. They threw it at Dominick and left him exterior alone to die.”

There’s a safety digicam that overlooks that yard, and a part of the incident was captured on surveillance video that police are reviewing as their investigation continues.

“His face is about twice the dimensions it usually is,” Rua stated. “He is swollen with blisters. You’ll be able to’t even see his lovely eyes anymore.”

Rua stated her son ought to make a full restoration and have minimal scarring.