A 12-year-old boy was recovering yesterday from injuries he received when he set fire to a bullet he found on a parking lot in Southeast Baltimore, police said. The bullet exploded, injuring his eye and hand.

Brandon Locklear of the 1700 block of Nome Ave. was in fair condition yesterday at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Police said pieces of metal flew into his right eye and scratched his right hand.

Agent Angelique Cook-Hayes, a police spokeswoman, said Brandon and a friend found the bullet about 10: 30 p.m. Thursday in the back of a parking lot in the 6400 block of Holabird St.

She said Brandon used a lighter to set fire to the bullet. Police said they searched the lot but did not recover any other ammunition. They could not determine the caliber of the slug.

Pub Date: 5/30/98