LOS ANGELES, CA — A teen who died while handling what police said could have been homemade fireworks that exploded in the South Los Angeles neighborhood of Vermont Knolls was identified by county authorities Saturday.
Alexander Arana, 17, was identified by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office as the teen who died in the blast that occurred around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 400 block of West 84th Street, west of the Harbor (110) Freeway.
The teen is believed to have been handling pyrotechnic equipment that exploded, police said.
Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics took the teen to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Members of the LAPD Bomb Squad cleared the scene of the blast, “seizing a large quantity of illegal pyrotechnic devices and transporting all remaining explosive materials to a safe storage location,” according to a department statement.
The LAPD’s Major Crimes Division was investigating the explosion and “the source of the illegal pyrotechnic materials that were seized from the residence.”
Anyone with additional information regarding the fatal explosion or the illegal pyrotechnic materials and devices was urged to contact Major Crimes Division Detective Allen at 213-486-7260. Calls during non-business hours or weekends should be directed to 877-527-3247. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
— City News Service