The family told Channel 2’s Carl Willis that the attack happened as the boy was sleeping.

Damon Clay, 17, is in intensive care, in a medically induced coma, with burns covering 70 percent of his body.

Witnesses say two teens threw a pot of boiling rice on him as he slept.

“He’s scarred for the rest of his life. His life will never be the same,” the teen’s aunt said, asking not to be identified.

Family members told Willis that Clay was attacked Monday morning by Quintavious Barber, 19, and Malik Moton, 18, after the two accused the victim of stealing a PlayStation 3.

“I think it’s ridiculous somebody would do a child like that,” neighbor Tamara Miller said.

“They were friends. Everybody was supposed to be friends,” neighbor Laprell Grant said.

Neighbors showed Willis the apartment where the incident happened.

The renter of the apartment, Kentaveus Watson, told Willis he is friends with everyone involved. He walked Willis through how the attack happened and said he still has visions of Clay’s injuries.

“It scared me, really. Ever since it happened, I’ve been sleeping on the couch right where he got burned.”

Family members say Clay should have never been vulnerable to such an attack.

They say he had been in jail for a burglary but released into a three-month program offered by a nonprofit based in East Point.

They say a minister over the program promised a judge he’d provide Clay shelter, and guidance.

“He didn’t have any supervision, none,” the teen’s aunt said.

Instead of a group home, family members say Clay bounced from place to place, staying with relatives and friends until the attack happened.

“I’d rather my nephew be in jail than to be here,” the aunt said.

Doctors will try to take Clay off of a ventilator on Sunday, then do more surgery.

The attackers are facing charges including aggravated assault and cruelty to a child.

Source: WSBTV