Posted on 03/24/2015 6:01:04 AM PDT by Citizen Zed
Four people were injured Saturday when a .50 caliber tracer shell exploded as a military reservist tried to heat it with a torch outside his home.
Police received several emergency calls about 9:45 p.m. regarding an explosion and need for medical attention at the 50 block of Timber Lane.
"We found several injured people suffering from lacerations, mostly minor -- face, hands, legs -- the injuries were not life-threatening," police Cmdr. George Moravec said.
Moravec said Garrett Rogers, 25, a military reservist, apparently brought the shell home from Afghanistan.
"They're quite large," Moravec said, estimating the length at about 4 inches. "They're used in machine guns," and high-powered rifles, he added.
He explained that every five or 10 rounds from a box of ammunition is a tracer round, which allows the gunner to aim.
"The actual bullet ignites and creates a flame trail. It's simply used for the visual effect," Moravec said.
"He took a vise outside, he dismantled the casing and bullet. He put the bullet in a vise and put a torch to it to light it and it exploded," Moravec said. "He thought it would be like a sparkler or road flare."
The explosion sent pieces of the casing and the vise flying, Moravec said. Four people were injured. Rogers and his 23-year-old sister were treated and released at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, according to Moravec.
He said many people reported their windows shaking.
Rogers was not charged but police contacted Great Lakes Naval Station, Moravec said.
"There certainly was an element of danger presented to the neighborhood," he said.
Sure it was a tracer and not API?
Many among us firmly believe that military service should be a requirement for the presidency.
I disagree and now can add Garrett Rogers to long list of reasons. Garret Rogers, Wesley Clark......................
Do stupid things. Win stupid prizes.
“Tried” to heat it? I’d say he succeeded in that attempt.
Sounds like a “here, hold my beer” moment.
It’s Jersey. They don’t know about guns and ammo there because they’re not allowed to have them for the most part. I know, I grew up there.
What a maroon. SMH.
Great Lakes Navel Station is north of Chicago, Illinois.
I, for one, appreciate you posting the article since the link provided permits readers access only after responding to merchandising questionaire.
Major Duh!
Muslims.
“None of the above” isn’t too revealing a response, so I didn’t mind the survey.
GENIUS!
Obviously idiot reporters here. If the guy “dismantled the casing and the bullet”, that implies he REMOVED the bullet from the round.
But the police reported people injured by pieces of the casing. That would only occur if the guy had put a full ROUND in the vise, and heated it until ignition of the powder inside the casing occurred.
But since guns and ammo are icky black magic to most reporters. . .
ping - pang - pow!
“Hold much beer and watch this”.
No, they got it correct, it was a military TRACER round.
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