CHURCH HILL — Deputy state fire marshals are investigating an incident earlier this week that sent a teenager to a Baltimore hospital for treatment of injuries suffered while he was trying to discharge a makeshift firearm.
The teen, identified as a 13-year-old male, suffered burns and “traumatic injuries” after he attempted to shoot the rudimentary weapon, which investigators described as a metal pipe filled with black powder.
According to a news release from the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal, just before 11 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15, Church Hill Volunteer Fire Company and Queen Anne’s County Department of Emergency Services paramedics responded to the 200-block of Laysan Teal Court in Church Hill for a reported traumatic injury.
After the teenager was stabilized, he was airlifted by a Maryland State Police helicopter to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, according to the news release.
The teen was listed in stable condition on Friday, according to the news release.
His condition has not been updated.
The fire marshal’s office was requested to investigate after it was determined that the injuries were the result of an explosion.
According to the news release, investigators concluded that a metal pipe filled with an unknown amount of black powder exploded when the teenager attempted to “initiate” the device with a cigarette lighter.
Investigators also determined there was no evidence that the teen intended to manufacture a destructive device for “nefarious” reasons, and no criminal intent was suspected, according to the news release.
Deputy state fire marshals searched the property and found no similar or other destructive devices, according to the news release.