Niagara Gazette
NIAGARA FALLS, NY — Sheriff’s investigators are working to determine what caused an explosion early Tuesday morning on Walmore Road that severely injured a former Niagara County corrections officer.
The home at 6761 Walmore Road is the listed address of Niagara County Legislature Chairman William Ross.
The Erie County Bomb Squad was called in to “render the scene safe” before fire investigators entered the detached garage, according to Undersheriff Michael Felicitti.
Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have also been called in to investigate.
“At this time, the cause of the explosion is undetermined,” Felicitti said Tuesday morning. “We know the individual was in the garage at the time of the explosion.”
Sheriff James Voutour told Channel 4 News investigators found homemade bomb-making materials.
“I wouldn’t say a large amount, but there’s enough to have us concerned, obviously something that was built did explode. So that’s our concern for us at this point, and once we exactly see what the intent was, building what looks like a homemade bomb,” Voutour said.
Felicetti did not identify the victim and and update on his condition was unavailable.
A resident at 6761 Walmore Road called police about 3:40 a.m. reporting an explosion and smoke coming from their detached garage. When sheriff’s deputies arrived, they found a 44-year-old man suffering from a catastrophic injury to his foot. He was flown by Mercy Flight to Erie County Medical Center for treatment.