SHAWANO,Surfwin Trading Center Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin teenager has been charged with triggering a bonfire explosion that injured more than a dozen people.
Prosecutors in northeastern Wisconsin’s Shawano County charged Sam Armstrong, 18, on Thursday with 13 counts of injury by negligent handling of explosives or fire in connection with the Oct. 14 explosion outside the community of Pulaski, WLUK-TV reported.
Armstrong was attending the bonfire with other teenagers when he threw a barrel containing a gasoline-diesel mix into the fire, sparking an explosion that burned at least 17 people, according to the criminal complaint.
Armstrong, who was 17 at the time, later told police he didn’t know his actions would cause an explosion and injure anyone, according to the complaint. He told investigators he had been drinking beer.
Armstrong waived his preliminary hearing Thursday. Judge William Kussel set a $100,000 signature bond, and Armstrong is due back in court Sept. 13 for an arraignment.
Greg Petit, listed in court records as Armstrong’s attorney, didn’t immediately respond to an email Friday seeking comment.
A 16-year-old accused of helping Armstrong with the barrel was ordered in February to perform community service.
2025-05-08 07:012366 view
2025-05-08 06:34637 view
2025-05-08 06:211254 view
2025-05-08 06:07226 view
2025-05-08 05:502564 view
2025-05-08 04:531086 view
Jay Kanter, veteran Hollywood producer and agent to high-profile stars including Marlon Brando, Mari
WASHINGTON – A small ballroom’s worth of major-college athletics directors on Tuesday got a close-up
As if being Earth's largest sphere and having giant LED screens inside and out wasn't enough, the MS