The Tampa Police Department has arrested a 13-year-old student who lit a classmate's clothing on fire on Wednesday.
Tampa Police and Tampa Fire investigators were called to North Tampa Alternative School, located at 8602 N Armenia Ave, at approximately 1 PM on September 14, 2022. The male juvenile victim and Omar Lewis, 13, were in class together when Lewis used a lighter to set fire to the hooded sweatshirt the victim was wearing. When the victim felt the heat from the fire, he quickly began slapping at his back to extinguish the flame. The victim was not injured, however, a three-inch hole was burned into his sweatshirt.
Lewis was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon (felony) and disruption of a school function (misdemeanor).