4-Year-Old Burned By Brother Dies
Older Brother Poured Lighter Fluid on Child and Set Him on Fire Three Days Ago.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. June 25 — A 4-year-old boy died early Tuesday, less than three days after authorities say his 7-year-old brother poured lighter fluid on him and set him on fire.

Nyquest Tearney suffered second- and third-degree burns over 85 percent to 95 percent of his body in the fire Saturday night. He died at Shriner's Children Hospital in Boston, where he had been taken Sunday.

Police have charged the 7-year-old, whose name was not released, with assault. Additional charges could be filed because the victim died, authorites said.

The boy told police the fire was an accident, police said.

"I don't know what was going through the kid's head," police spokesman Sgt. Tom Connellan said. The boy was to undergo a psychiatric examination.

The children's 44-year-old aunt, who was caring for the children in her home while [red]their mother was at a party,[/red] suffered second-degree burns on her hands when she came to little Nyquest's rescue, Connellan said.