Posted July 22, 2017 06:39pm
(KNZA)--A rural Mayetta boy died Friday following a fireworks explosion at his home.
Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse identified the victim as 11-year-old Colby Harris.
Morse says the sheriff’s office received a 911 call Friday shortly before noon from Harris of an apparent explosion.
The Sheriff’s Office, Hoyt and Mayetta Fire Departments along with the Jackson County EMS responded to 15530 150th Road.
Deputies breeched the residence and found Harris died.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Scene Team was requested to assist with the incident.
Morse says the subsequent investigation determined that Harris had been experimenting with fireworks and other minor explosive devices. Harris was home alone for a very short period of time prior to making the 911 call.
An autopsy was performed Saturday in Kansas City. Morse says the manner of death was determined to be accidental, with the preliminary cause of death due to massive blood loss caused by shrapnel.
Harris would have started 6th grade at Royal Valley Middle School this fall.
Mass of Christian Burial for Harris will be Wednesday morning at 10:00 at St. Dominic Catholic Church, in Holton.
