WWII grenade explodes in teen's hands

By Christopher Seward

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A late-night hand grenade explosion Tuesday in Hall County left one juvenile seriously injured and another behind bars, authorities said.

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office said a 16-year-old male suffered burns and injuries to his hands, face and abdominal area after the modified World War II grenade detonated while he was handling it at a residence on Underwood Drive in Murrayville.

Authorities arrested Barratt Duncan Young, 18, of Murrayville after a search of another north Hall County residence allegedly found homemade explosive devices and materials for making such devices.

“The injured juvenile’s 18-year-old friend was actually responsible for modifying the grenade,” spokesman sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Wilbanks told Channel 2 Action News on Wednesday.

Young has been charged with possessing and manufacturing an explosive device, reckless conduct, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and alcohol consumption under 21.

The sheriff’s office said they were called to a Marathon gas station on Thompson Bridge Road in Murrayville around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and found the 16-year-old, who was not identified, seriously injured.

The juvenile had been driven to the station by Young, authorities said.

“He [Young] went to the address where this had happened, where the juvenile was also at, handed it to him and stepped out of the room," Wilbanks said. "That's when the detonation took place, which explains why the 18-year-old who actually manufactured the device was not injured.”

The investigation revealed the grenade, which is available commercially as a novelty after being rendered inert, had been modified, and an unknown explosive material had been inserted.

With the help of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, a search of the Underwood residence turned up explosive material for making homemade devises similar to the one that detonated, authorities said.

Investigators allegedly found more explosive material and two more grenades, which were inert, at Young's residence on Kanaday Road.

Authorities said they don’t believe the case involves domestic terrorism, and there is no indication that the devices were intended for harmful use.

Wilbanks said it was a case of “basically young folks experimenting with very dangerous instruments. We don’t have any indication that they had planned to use these to harm anybody or to destroy property.”

Wilbanks said he didn’t know why Young drove the 16-year-old to the gas station. He said he may have planned to drive the teen all the way to the hospital or meet the ambulance at the gas station since the incident occurred in a remote area of Hall County.