A 50-year-old Palm Bay, Fla. man suffered extensive second-degree burns on Tuesday when he accidentally lit himself on fire while setting up a Halloween display that involved a wooden cross, candles, and gasoline, according to Florida Today. Police described the incident as a "prank."
“It started as some kind of prank apparently and involved a wooden cross,” Yvonne Martinez, a spokesperson for the Palm Bay Police Department, told Florida Today. "We don’t know if he was trying to light the cross or the candles but when he did, his clothes caught fire."
The man, identified as Ron Nielson, was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center's burn unit for treatment, and his condition was not publicly known on Wednesday.
“He was conscious and alert but he had second-degree burns over 40 to 50 percent of his body, including his chest, arms, upper torso,” Martinez said.
According to Bay News 9, investigators said Nielson was putting up Halloween decorations on his front yard when, as a joke, he poured gasoline on a small wooden cross and lit it on fire. Gasoline vapors ignited a gas can, which exploded, shooting flames into Nielson's chest and back.
You know this is the problem with today's Klu Klux Klan, they have gotten sloppy and lost pride in what they do.
In the old days these guys could plant ten, maybe a dozen flaming crosses in yards with nary a blister on their finger to show for it.
And if they had set their asses on fire they would never have covered it up by claiming it was a joke. Instead they would have struggled to sit up and yelled across the street "This was for you Juan!" Before passing out and being rushed to the hospital.
Gryphen, this is pretty low. Unless you have some further info that the guy was KKK, not a good idea. The evidence points to this NOT being a case of hate as a) it's on his own property, and b) it's Halloween. 2nd degree burns aren't a joke.
ReplyDeleteA lack of evidence tying this to the KKK still doesn't change the fact that the idiot was practically ASKING for this to happen!
DeleteStupid is as stupid does!
I'm just grateful no CHILDREN were hurt!
As for it being his own property, that's just crazy. Only a hating person (or an absolute IDIOT!) would try to burn a cross - KKK or not. Being Halloween does NOT excuse trying to create one of the most feared symbols this country has ever seen in its racist history.
As for it being no joke? True, but when you play with matches....
Because, yeah, don't we all burn crosses on Halloween? Don't you?
DeleteLove you Gryph and I despise racists, but...I have to agree with anonymous 4:30am.
DeleteStop trying to tell Gryphen what to put on his blog.
DeleteI don't care if it is the man's own lawn, it is a RACIST STATEMENT to burn a cross on a lawn. It is, and always has been OFFENSIVE to Blacks.
And how many black children do you think will probably go trick or treating in that neighborhood and see that burning cross?! How many Black people do you think will drive by or walk by and see that burning cross?!
A burning cross has a history of pain, racism, and trauma. Burning a cross on a lawn IS NO JOKE.
I know what I am talking about. I am a 65 year old Black woman who lived through it all in the 60's.
Use/referent distinction - you are missing it.
Delete1. The burning of a wooden cross is to the Ku Klux Klan what the Swastika is to the Nazis. It's an historical signature. If you burn a cross in any public place I'm within my right to assume you are a racist Klan member and react accordingly.
Delete2. OTOH, burning a wooden cross is not an historic Halloween display.. Neither is putting up a wooden cross - unless of course there was a plan to hang something like a zombie from said cross. Was there a zombie? No? Then we're back to regarding this as an act of racism and hate.
3. None of us knows what the evidence points to as no evidence has yet been made public. So guess what. Gryphen's take is as good as yours.
-Oz
$5 says alcohol was involved. But then again, it is Florida, and Palm Bay isn't that far from Sanford.
ReplyDeleteThat was NO joke. Damn racist fool, got what he deserved.
ReplyDeleteOf course it is in Floriduh! A state full of whack-jobs. Mississippi has nothing on Floriduh when it comes to racists.
A racist goes up in flames.
ReplyDeleteHope the KKK has good medical coverage plan for their members.
ReplyDeleteWonder if he was covered by Medicaid? Oh, that's right, Voldemort cut back on Medicaid coverage in Florida. Do you think the guy had paid health insurance? Probably not. Looks like a freeloader to me. Would welcome a correction, but it is highly unlikely.
ReplyDeleteMy boss in 1994 got into severe trouble for burning a cross on his front lawn. I don't remember why he did it, it happened before I went to work for him. We are Australian and it happened in Australia but the magistrate fined him anyway. Because KKK. Asshats, they're all around us.
ReplyDeleteI hope he sees the light. tee hee
ReplyDeleteYEAH !!!
ReplyDeleteNo Joke, No Prank.
ReplyDeleteWhat some folks do to try to get on "America's Funniest Videos" is a bit extreme, when a kick to the groin or belly flopping in slop would get him first prize.
burning a cross in your front yard is a sign of hate a georgia man was indited for this. this was not just a "halloween prank gone wrong" give me a break.
ReplyDeletethis was no halloween prank, give me a break, burning crosses is illegal, a georgia man was indited when he burned a cross in his front yard, it is a sign of hate point blank period, he got what he deserved, now he knows a little bit about how hell is going to feel if he does not straighten up
ReplyDelete