Two juveniles charged after children burned at Massachusetts playground from muriatic acid on the playground slide

The Longmeadow Police Detective Bureau in conjunction with the Hampden County D.A.’s Office has concluded their investigation into the Bliss Park incident which occurred on June 11th.

Two juveniles have been identified as those responsible for pouring muriatic acid on the playground slide, causing burn injuries to four young children.

On October 18th, a Grand Jury officially charged each juvenile with Assault and Battery on a Child (4 counts), Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon (4 counts), and Vandalism. Due to their age, the juveniles’ identities cannot be released.

According to the fire department, just before 9:45 a.m., Longmeadow Fire and Police were dispatched to Bliss Park Playground for a suspicious substance on the playground equipment. At the same time, Longmeadow Fire / EMS was dispatched to a residential address for a report of two children with burn like injuries after leaving the park. Longmeadow Firefighters determined the material to be acidic in nature. The material had been poured on three of the slides on the playground.

Additional resources were requested to include the Massachusetts Department of Fire Service Hazardous Material Response Team, Mass State Police Crime Lab Team, District Attorney’s office and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP).

During the initial investigation it was determined that the pump room in the basement of the pool building at the park had been broken into. Two fences had been climbed and a cover to a ventilation shaft was torn off. The perpetrators entered the room through the ventilation shaft. The room houses the chemicals used to operate the pool. The Haz-Mat team determined that one of these chemicals was poured on the slides. This chemical was determined to be muriatic acid. The Mass State Police crime lab gathered several items of evidence. Additional evidence was gathered and has been sent to the crime lab for forensic analysis and finger printing.

Officials say that the pool chemicals had been stored properly in a secured area and a great deal of effort was employed to enter the space. It is suspected that the perpetrators may have suffered acid burns to their hands or arms and their clothing may have indications of being degraded from contact with the acid.

The LPD thanked Hampden County D.A. Anthony Gulluni and his team, the Mass State Police and the FBI for their assistance with the investigation.