Three Teens Dead In House Explosion While Trying To Make Fireworks

Three teenagers and a man reportedly died in a house explosion while they were attempting to make fireworks in St. Louis County, Missouri on Friday, June 17.

The teenage victims Damario Cooks, 18, and his cousin Travell Eason, 16, reportedly lived in the home at 6680 Parker Road where the explosion occurred. Meanwhile, the other two dead, Christopher Jones, 17, and William Jones, 21, were friends of the cousins. Damario's 12-year-old brother was also injured by a falling brick during the explosion.

The sudden blast leveled a garage, demolished the home, and shook nearby residences, as well as blew out some neighbors’ windows as debris rained down the street as far as a block away from the explosion, the Daily Beast reported.

Following the tragic incident, Terrell Cooks, 37, and Seneca Mahan, 43, have been charged with three counts of second-degree murder and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Both also face weapons raps. The duo is accused of providing materials to create an explosive powder that was to be loaded into fireworks canisters to the underage victims.

After being interrogated, Terrell Cooks reportedly admitted that he and Mahan made explosive devices meant to produce a significant bang and flash. Cooks said that he instructed the victims on how to load the explosive powder into canisters.

Following the blast, investigators with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives searched the scene and uncovered evidence that numerous boxes of a flammable chemical compound ordered online had arrived at the address.

According to investigators, Terrell Cooks was planning to move the boxes of chemicals used to make explosives to his vehicle later on Friday. When authorities searched another residence and a number of vehicles connected to Terrell Cooks, they found large quantities of completed explosive weapons and components to manufacture them, St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Terrell Cooks and Mahan are currently being held in the St. Louis County jail on a $350,000 bail amount each.

Even though Terrell Cooks wasn’t at the house when it exploded, according to several witnesses, he was one of the “leaders of the manufacturing process” in the garage. Terrell Cooks admitted to investigators that he and Mahan made “ground salutes,” which refers to fireworks launched from the ground that make a loud bang and bright flash.

Neither Cooks nor Mahan have a license to make or sell fireworks.