Man Doused 1-Year-Old Baby With Flammable Liquid, Tried To Set Infant On Fire At Gas Station

A man reportedly doused a 1-year-old baby with a flammable liquid and tried to set the infant on fire at a gas station in Tyre, New York on Tuesday, May 10.

On Tuesday, May 10, at around 5:30 a.m., the Seneca County Sheriff's Office responded to a Love's Truck Stop after they received reports of a fire inside the establishment. When the officers arrived at the scene, law enforcement "located two suspects that allegedly started and attempted to start the fires," Law & Crime reported.

One of the suspects, identified as Jamie Avery Jr., was immediately detained. Further investigation revealed that the two were in the company of a 1-year-old child that was doused with flammable liquid. The child was immediately rushed to Geneva General Hospital for treatment.

"It is alleged that the two suspects poured a flammable liquid on the 1-year-old child and attempted to light the child on fire inside the building," police said. "Luckily, the two were unsuccessful."

While sheriff's deputies conducted a detailed check of the building, a suspicious device was located in the men's bathroom. Following this, the establishment was immediately evacuated and the Monroe County Bomb Squad, as well as other units from the Ontario County Sheriff's Office and Wayne County Sheriff's office, responded to the scene.

However, about four hours later, the officers declared that the building was safe and that the suspicious device was determined to be a makeshift replica and not incendiary in nature.

Meanwhile, another child, 4 years old, was also located, injured and abandoned, in the cab of a nearby tractor-trailer. The child was rescued after sheriff's deputies forced entry into the cab. The toddler was immediately transported to Geneva General Hospital by a North Seneca ambulance and was later airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital by LifeNet with suspected head injuries.

Both children are now in the custody of Seneca County Human Services. They have been medically treated and are expected to make full recoveries.

Following the incident, Avery was charged with attempted aggravated murder, attempted murder in the second degree, arson in the second degree, attempted arson in the second degree, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.