CBS2 Exclusive: Long Island Middle Schooler Accused Of Lighting Classmate's Hair On Fire

MASTIC BEACH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Parents at a Long Island middle school say a 13-year-old boy brought a lighter to school and lit the hair of a classmate on fire.

In this exclusive report, CBS2's Jennifer McLogan spoke with students at the school who said it was no accident.

Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders from Mastic and Shirley are buzzing about what they saw and heard in their middle school.

"We looked and this girl's hair was literally on fire, and it was just like a little flame and then it started getting really big," said Carly Dollard. "And she was screaming and ran into the next hallway; a few teachers were holding her back."

Students told McLogan a classmate was goofing around with a cigarette lighter brought illegally into the school and flicked the flame.

While others backed away, the fire caught and singed the hair of a 14-year-old girl.

Exclusive cell phone video shows the frantic victim leaving school with her family.

EMS and Suffolk police said the girl refused medical attention.

"Like her hair was on fire, in flames; it was crazy," said Emily Rustrian.

"A 13-year-old male has been arrested for lighting on fire the hair of a 14-year-old female at the William Paca Middle School in Shirley this morning," police said in a statement. "The teacher put out the fire and the girl was not hospitalized."

Police said the 13-year-old boy is being charged as a juvenile delinquent.

"Her hair was on fire and the teacher had grabbed a blanket and put it over her head because her hair was on fire," said Josiah Graham. "He lit her on fire and she was running around, I guess because he got mad at her."

The crisis was quickly diffused thanks to the teacher and security, McLogan reported.

"At approximately 8 a.m., a student allegedly assaulted another student. School officials immediately notified EMS and police and an arrest was made," the William Floyd School District said in a statement.

Sources said the alleged perpetrator has been suspended for a least the remainder of this school year.

The victim's family wants him held accountable and is filing charges, McLogan reported.

Due to the ages of the victim and suspect, school officials and police are not releasing the motivation behind the attack.