Firefighters’ Fund to Help Boy Burned in Firebombing

Inglewood firefighters have set up a fund to help a 12-year-old boy who was severely burned last week by homemade firebombs hurled through the front window of his sister’s home.

Terrell Mullen, a student at Lennox Middle School, was in stable condition Thursday at Sherman Oaks Community Hospital with second- and third-degree burns on his hands, face and back. Hospital officials said he is undergoing surgical skin grafts.

Family members, who have been visiting the boy daily, said they appreciate the firefighters’ concern.

Mullen’s sister, Brenda Walker, who was in the house with her four children, said she is looking for a new home and attempting to put the fire behind her.

“I have to worry now,” she said. “I don’t know why they did that to my house. I can’t go anywhere now without looking behind my back. I almost got burned up.”

Ella Walker, another sister, said Terrell is concerned about how the burns on his face will affect his appearance but is handling the painful treatment well.

“My little brother could have been dead,” she said. “He’s badly burned, but I thank God that no one died.”

Meanwhile, arson investigators said they have identified one possible suspect in the fire. They declined to reveal a motive for the firebombing, which is being investigated as an attempted murder. Witnesses said they saw four men wearing white T-shirts running from the home last Wednesday night after hurling as many as four homemade bombs.

Donations to the Terrell Mullen Burn Fund can be sent to Inglewood Firefighters Assn., PO Box 525 Inglewood, Calif. 90307.