Montreal-area boy severely burned after stranger throws boiling water on him

A woman in her 40s was arrested in Longueuil, Que., last week after allegedly throwing boiling water at a 10-year-old boy as he walked by her home.

The Service de police de l'agglomération de Longueuil (SPAL) reported that the boy was scalded on October 2 by a woman who resides in a multi-residential building near Curé-Poirier Boulevard East and Chambly Road.

Due to the boy's status as a minor and a victim of violence, CBC News is not revealing his identity.

Speaking to Radio-Canada, the boy said he was walking home from school with friends in the South Shore city of Montreal, and they "took a shortcut" that led past the woman's residence.

His father, Tewa Pierre Senin, recounted that the boy arrived home around 4 p.m., screaming, "Dad, someone threw boiling water on me. I've been burned!"

"It was unbearable," Senin said.

The boy sustained serious burns to his head, face, torso, and back.

Senin added, "I called the police, but since they were taking time to arrive, we rushed to get the child to the hospital. Police showed up about an hour later."

The boy remains traumatized by the incident and has been living in fear since, according to his mother, Marie Ettian.

After searching for the woman near the scene, the boy's father confronted her, asking why she attacked his son.

"She said the child had been knocking at her door for the past three years, but we only moved to the neighborhood in January," Senin explained. "My son never did that."

Senin further noted that not only has the family lived in the area for less than a year, but his son only started attending the nearby school a month ago.

The woman was arrested and questioned by investigators.

Police said she faces charges of assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

She was released the same day with a promise to appear in court and under certain conditions, including not contacting the boy or his family, according to SPAL officer Mélanie Mercille.

However, the woman’s release has left the family feeling unsafe.

"I worry for other children too because [the woman’s home] is near a school, and that scares me," Ettian expressed.

The SPAL is also encouraging the public to contact police if they feel unsafe during neighborhood disputes.