Georgia Preteen Disfigured After Friends Pour Hot Water on His Face During Sleepover 'Prank'

"It was just a prank" is no consolation for a Georgia mother whose 12-year-old son ended up with second-degree burns on his face when friends poured scalding water on him. Now, she's warning others about the grave dangers behind these so-called pranks.

The incident, which happened earlier this week, led to charges against three minors, ages 12 to 15, police said. The three boys charged are home with their families and will face a hearing next month.

The victim's mother, Tiffany West, asked to keep his identity private but told local news her son was spending the night at a neighbor's house with friends. He was already asleep when the boiling water was poured on him.

"I mean, I really can't describe it now. In that moment I was just mad, hurt, in shock. Everything, I was seeing red. I was just trying to hurry up and get him some help," West told WALB.

West's son was transported to a burn center for surgery. She added it would take him up to 2 weeks to recover. Grappling with the emotional toll of recovery while hit with growing expenses, the victim's family wants justice to be served.

"You got to be in shock to know your friends are capable of doing this to you," the victim's aunt Nachelle said. "Like somebody you trusted, it's just horrible. He never thought something like this would happen to him."

The incident is sparking a flurry of conversations online, with Reddit users weighing in from all sides.

One user described the incident as a "prank gone wrong," and questioned, "How was the prank supposed to go right?"

Another added, "They're 12, not 6. There's no excuse for not knowing that boiling water will seriously injure someone at that age."

Some showed sympathy for the kids charged. "I don't condone their behavior, but I'm wondering if they didn't realize how bad it would be and that's what they mean by 'prank gone wrong,' " one commenter speculated.

Nachelle added that the victim's mother has taken time off work to support her son's recovery. She also explained that the victim, her nephew, will need serious counseling.