Sheriff’s video shows gasoline from a bonfire surging toward a group before a boy ignites and runs for water.
ANTHONY, Fla. — A Marion County 17-year-old was taken into custody Wednesday after deputies said newly released video shows him pouring gasoline that set a friend on fire during an overnight gathering at Kauffmans Island on Jan. 10. The victim sustained serious burns and was flown to a Gainesville hospital.
Detectives identified the teen as Bradey Ming and booked him on a felony aggravated battery charge. The case has drawn attention because the edited clip appears to capture a preventable chain of events: a flickering bonfire, a splash of fuel, a sudden flare, and a scramble toward Lake Kerr. The sheriff’s office said an arrest warrant was secured last week after interviews and review of the footage. Prosecutors are now weighing formal charges and court jurisdiction as the investigation continues.
According to investigative documents, four teens used jet skis to reach the island late Jan. 10. The group set a small bonfire along the shoreline. In video released by authorities, a teen tips a container and traces a stream across the sand. Flames flash along the path and climb the legs of another boy standing nearby. “Get in the lake!” someone yells, as the burning teen splashes into the water to extinguish the flames. The sheriff’s office called the unedited clip “too graphic” to share publicly.
Medical records summarized by deputies say the victim suffered second-degree burns to his right hand, backside and right leg, and deep full-thickness burns across parts of both legs. He was airlifted to UF Health Shands Hospital and admitted to intensive care. A family account suggested a gasoline bottle near the fire sparked the blaze; investigators said the video indicates a poured trail from a canister reached the teen instead. Officials did not release an updated condition and did not identify the boy because he is a minor.
Court records show a judge approved the warrant for Ming late last week following hospital interviews and recovery of the recording. Deputies arrested him on Wednesday and said he would remain held pending a first appearance. The listed charge is aggravated battery causing great bodily harm. The State Attorney’s Office will decide in the coming days whether to prosecute the case in juvenile court or seek adult charges, a decision that can hinge on injury severity and any prior history.
Lake Kerr sits in the northeastern corner of Marion County inside the Ocala National Forest, a draw for campers and boaters who travel to sandbars and small islands on weekends. Fire officials in the region have repeatedly warned against using accelerants to revive campfires after a series of burn injuries over the past few years. Residents near Salt Springs said Thursday they recognized the island in the sheriff’s clip and described seeing emergency lights on the water the night after the incident.
Deputies said they continue to interview witnesses and gather any additional video from phones or nearby homes along the lake. Prosecutors are expected to announce a charging decision and schedule a first court date as early as next week. The sheriff’s office said further details would be released once the filing is complete.
As of Thursday evening, the suspect remained in custody and no further medical update was provided on the burned teen. Officials said the next public milestone will be the State Attorney’s filing decision and the scheduling of a court appearance.
Author note: Last updated February 5, 2026.