NEW HARMONY, Utah, Nov. 10, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Officials are releasing more details after a man was killed Saturday night in the town of New Harmony when an explosive device he was apparently making in a garage detonated.
A news release from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said officials received a report of a traumatic injury on the 400 North block of Harmony Drive at about 8 p.m.
Upon arrival, sheriff’s deputies and medical personnel found a deceased person, whom they identified as a 25-year-old man. A follow-up news release Sunday morning said the deceased man has been identified, but his identity is being withheld pending notification of family members.
The man has ties to both Washington and Iron counties, officials said.
“The initial information provided by investigators on scene was the victim possibly died as a result of an explosion which occurred in a garage of the residence,” the news release said. “Members of the Washington County Bomb Squad and Washington County Detectives responded to further investigate the explosion leading up to the individual’s death.”
Members of the Bomb Squad were able to clear the residence, locating no additional explosive devices or further threats to the public.
“A man who witnessed the incident stated he and the victim had gone to the farm property to care for horses,” the news release said. “After completing their work, they waited at a secondary residence of the farm property, to call for a ride back home.
“The witness told investigators he was asked to come to the garage area where his acquaintance was working. The individual told the witness he was making an explosive device.”
The witness had turned to walk away, when the device detonated, killing the man making it. The witness was uninjured and is cooperating with detectives in their investigation.
Although the dead man was previously known to law enforcement, detectives have not discovered any evidence to indicate an intended target for the device, the news release said.
The name of the victim will be released Monday after the family has had enough time to make notifications.
Gephardt Daily will update this developing story as more details are made available.
