Boy's Parents Call For Hate Crime Charges In Burning

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jun 16, 2009 5:20PM

Hate crime charges could be coming in the burning of nine year old Joshua Judkins, according to authorities investigating the case. Joshua, who suffered second- and third-degree burns over 20 percent of his body, was visiting his mother in Hammond when the incident happened. He was playing with three older boys he had just met when they allegedly threw alcohol on him and set him on fire. But Joshua is black and the three boys involved are white, leading Joshua's father to call for hate crime charges. Elijah Judkins said, "This is not nothing that just happened by chance. This was a hate crime." Police say the boys claimed the burning was accidental. Authorities also say Joshua isn't well enough yet to give an official statement. [CBS 2 via WBBM-AM]