Prank Turns Into Arson Killing a Friend
Four members of the Bradley University Soccer Team have been charged with arson after a prank went very bad. The four men set off a roman candle under a teammate’s bedroom door after a night of drinking. The firework set the room ablaze, killing their teammate, Sheridan Dahlquist.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Peoria Illinois State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons chose not to charge the boys with first-degree murder because he believed did not intend to harm their friend. Lyons said “they intended for their friend to run outside in his underwear, going, ‘What the hell happened.’” After they discovered the room was on fire, the boys tried to rescue Dahlquist, but failed in the attempt.
Lyons said he didn’t want to “make five tragedies out of one tragedy,” but that the boys need to be accountable.
The boys each face 6 to 30 years in prison. Hopefully, Lyons can work out a plea for these boys. Their permanent guilt from this prank gone wrong should account for most of their punishment.
