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47-year-old Bryan Niedert was found unresponsive on Saturday shortly before 6:30 pm local time, at a residence in the Lakes of the Four Seasons neighborhood. Niedert and two teenagers sustained injuries after a hand grenade went off and killed the 47-year-old man. The grenade reportedly belonged to the children's grandfather.
While Bryan Niedert was later declared dead, his 18-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son sustained injuries from shrapnel and were rushed to a hospital. The bomb squad also arrived at the scene to investigate the explosion.
Police mentioned that such explosions are quite common when families find certain kinds of explosives in the belongings of family members who were veterans of several significant wars.
Bryan Niedert was found dead after a hand grenade blew up at his residence in north-western Indiana
The tragic blast took place on Saturday, May 20, 2023, shortly before 6:30 pm local time, when a family was going through their grandfather's belongings in their house in the community of Lakes of Four Seasons. This was when they discovered a hand grenade, which eventually went off and injured two teenagers and killed their dad Bryan Niedert.
As per International Business Times, deputies investigating the matter said:
“[Detectives were] looking into whether the device may have self-detonated due to its age or other factors, whether the pin was pulled or whether any other circumstance may have been involved.”
Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. additionally said:
“Someone reportedly pulled the pin on the device and it detonated.”
Responding officers from the Lake County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the scene and found an unresponsive adult male, who was later identified as Bryan Niedert. His children sustained injuries from the fragments of the grenade that blew up.
An autopsy is set to be conducted on Monday
The Lake County Coroner's Office identified Bryan Niedert and mentioned:
“Injuries, cause, and manner of death are all pending.”
The Coroner's Office further expressed their condolences and prayers to Niedert's wife and family after the tragic incident.
They also said:
“Thank you to all law enforcement agencies for their quick response and assistance with this tragic circumstance.”
Along with the Lake County Sheriff's Deputy officers, The Porter County Bomb Squad was also present at the blast site. The bomb squad had to determine whether there were any other explosives on the property in the 3400 block of W. Lakeshore Drive.
As per International Business Times, an FBI report mentioned that it is not uncommon to find explosives in the belongings of individuals who have been military veterans. They would often bring back such objects from wars like World Wars I and II, the Gulf War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, as souvenirs.
Law enforcement officials have additionally stated that people should be extremely careful when they come across such items in their houses. They should immediately move away from the explosives and call the cops.
Authorities are yet to reveal additional information regarding the blast that killed Bryan Niedert. They are still investigating the tragic incident, and have also confirmed that an autopsy will be conducted on his remains on Monday.
