The single most important detail is whether the “teen” was a hostage or an accomplice. Leaving that out is incompetence or malice, you decide. I think it may be a clue that the picture of the “teen” is from when he is 6 or 7, not a recent.
Speaking of malice or incompetence, if the kid was not a hostage there was no reason for the JBTs not to wait them out. If he was a hostage burning the house down around him seems a pretty poor rescue.
All signs point to birds of a feather
Another possibility is the kid wanted to leave on his own but was afraid one of these Rambos might shoot him.