Man dies after firework shell explodes in his hand at abandoned Twin Cities building

Authorities say a man died after a firework exploded in his hand over the holiday weekend in the northern Twin Cities metro area.

It happened at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday on the roof of an abandoned building on a portion of the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant site in Arden Hills. The building is at the north end of the large property, near County Road I.

Officials with the Lake Johanna Fire Department, which covers that area, said a 911 caller reported that a man had a firework explode while he was holding it.

There were no stairs that could be used for a rescue. Authorities initially called for a helicopter but eventually used a ladder truck to access the victim.

He was removed from the roof and taken to HCMC, where he later died from his injuries. KARE 11 reported the victim was 23-year-old Yaseen Abumayyaleh.

Fire officials said a group of 15 to 20 people had gathered at the site at the time of the incident. Abumayyaleh reportedly was holding a fireworks mortar tube with a 2-inch shell inside when it exploded.

The incident remains under investigation.

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